Barbara Allen - Shirley Collins

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