Barbara Allen

In Scarlett Town where i was born

there was a fair maid dwelling

and her name was no both far or near

and her name was Barbara Allen

'twas in the merry month of May

the greenbards they were swelling

for William on his death-bed laid

for the love of Barbara Allen

he sent his men down to town

to the place where she was dwelling

say "master begs your company

if your name be Barbara Allen"

slowly, slowly, she got up

to the place where he was lying

and when she pulled the curtain back

said "young man, i believe you're dying"

"oh yes, oh yes, i'm very sick

and i shall not get better

unless i have the love of one

the love of Barbara Allen"

"don't you remember, not long ago

that night down in the tavern

you toasted all the ladies there

but you slighted Barbara Allen"

"oh yes, oh yes, i remember it well

that day down in the tavern

i toasted all the ladies there

but i gave my heart to Barbara Allen"

she was walking near the yonder field

she could hear them death bells knelling

and every toll seemed to say

"hard-hearted Barbara Allen"

the more they tolled, the more she wept

'til her heart was filled with sorrow

Sweet William died for me today

i will die for him tomorrow

they buried him in the old churchyard

they buried her beside him

and from his heart grew a red red-rose

and from her heart a briar

they grew, they grew so awfully high

'til they could grow no higher

and 'twas there they tied a lovers' knot

the red-rose and the briar

in Scarlett Town, not far from here

there was a maid a-dwelling

and her name was no both far or near

and they called her Barbara Allen