Barbara Allen

In Scarlet Town where I was born

There was a fair maid dwellin'

Made every youth cry well-a-day

And her name was Barbry Allen

'Twas in the merry, merry month of May

When the green buds they were a-swellin'

Sweet William on his death bed lay

For the love of Barbry Allen

He sent his servant to the town

To the place where she was a-dwellin'

Cried "Master bid you come to him

If your name be Barbry Allen"

Then slowly, slowly she got up

And slowly went she nigh him

And when she pulled the curtains back

Said "Young man, I think you're dyin'"

"Oh yes, I'm sick, I'm very very sick

And I never will be better

Until I have the love of one

The love of Barbry Allen"

"Oh, can you not in yonder town

In the place where you were a-dwellin'

You gave a toast to the ladies all

But you slighted Barbry Allen?"

"Oh yes I can, I can at will

In the place where I was a-dwellin'

I gave a toast to the ladies all

But my love to Barbry Allen"

Then lightly tripped she down the stairs

He trembled like an aspen

"'Tis vain, 'tis vain, my dear young man

To hone for Barbry Allen"

She walked out in the green, green fields

She heard his death bells knellin'

And every stroke they seemed to say

"Hard hearted Barbry Allen"

Her eyes looked east, her eyes looked west

She saw his pale corpse comin'

She cried "Bearers, bearers, put him down

That I may look upon him"

The more she looked, the more she grieved

Until she burst out cryin'

She cried "Bearers, bearers, take him off

For I am now a-dyin'"

"Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave

Go dig it deep and narrow

Sweet William died for me today

I'll die for him tomorrow"

They buried her in the old churchyard

Sweet William's grave was nigh her