Twas in the merry month of May 

When green buds all were swelling, 

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 dwelling, 

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're dying. 



He turned his face unto the wall 

And death was in him welling, 

Good-bye, good-bye, to my friends all 

Be good to Barbara Allen.



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. 



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.