Barbara Allen

'Twas in the merry month of May

When green buds all were swellin'

Sweet William on his death bed lay

For the love of Barbara Allen

He sent his servant to the town

To the place where she was dwellin'

Saying

"You must come to my master dear

If your name be Barb'ry Allen"

So slowly, slowly she got up,

And slowly she drew nigh to him,

And the only words to him did say

"Young man, I think you're dying"

He turned his face unto the wall

And death was in him welling

Goodbye, goodbye to my friends all

Be kind to Barb'ry Allen

When he was dead and laid in grave

She heard the death bells knellin'

And every stroke to her did say

"Hard-hearted Barb'ry Allen"

"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"

"Oh father, oh father

Go dig my grave

Make it both long and narrow

Sweet William died on yesterday

And I will die tomorrow"

Barb'ry Allen was buried in the old church-yard

Sweet William was buried beside her

Out of Sweet William's heart there grew a rose

Out of Barb'ry Allen's, a briar

They grew and gew in the old church-yard

'Til they could grow no higher

At the end they formed a true lovers' knot

And the rose grew 'round the briar