Barbara Allen

'Twas in the merry month of May

When green buds all were swellin'

Sweet William on his death bed lay

For 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 Barbara Allen"

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 are dying"

He turned his face unto the wall

And death was in him wellin'

"Goodbye, goodbye to my friends all

Be good to Barbara Allen"

When he was dead and laid in grave

She heard the death bells knellin'

And every stroke to her did say

"Hard-hearted Barbara 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"

"And father, oh father, go dig my grave

Make it both long and narrow

Sweet William died on yesterday

And I will die tomorrow"

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

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