Barbara Allen

[Verse 1]

T'was in the merry month of May

When green buds all were swelling

Sweet William on his death bed lay

For love of Barbara Allen

[Verse 2]

He sent his servant to the town

To the place where she was dwelling

Saying, "You must come, to my master dear

If your name be Barbara Allen"

[Verse 3]

So slowly, slowly she got up

And slowly she drew nigh him

And the only words to him did say

"Young man, I think you're dying"

[Verse 4]

He turned his face unto the wall

And death was in him welling

"Goodbye, goodbye to my friends all

Be good to Barbara Allen"

[Verse 5]

When he was dead and laid in grave

She heard the death bells knelling

And every stroke to her did say

"Hard hearted Barbara Allen"

[Verse 6]

"Oh mother, oh mother, go dig my grave

Make it both long and narrow

Sweet William died of love for me

And I will die of sorrow"

[Verse 7]

"And father, oh father, go dig my grave

Make it both long and narrow

Sweet William died on yesterday

And I will die tomorrow"

[Verse 8]

Barbara Allen was buried in the old churchyard

Sweet William was buried beside her

Out of sweet William's heart, there grew a rose

Out of Barbara Allen's, a briar

[Verse 9]

They grew and grew in the old churchyard

Till they could grow no higher

At the end they formed a true lover's knot

And the rose grew round the briar