Twas in the merry month of May When green buds all were swelling Sweet William on his d**h bed lay For love of Barbara Allen He sent his servant unto her To the place where she was dwelling Saying you must come to his bedside now, 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" As she walked slowly o'er the field She heard the d**h bells knelling And with every stroke it seemed to say
Hard hearted Barbara Allen Oh mother, oh mother make my bed Make it both long and narrow Sweet William died for me today I will die for him tomorrow They buried her in the old churchyard They buried him beside her And from his grave grew a red red rose And from her grave a green briar They grew and grew to the steeple top Till they could grow no higher And there they tied in a true love's knot Red rose around green briar