Barbara Allan
(Anonymous)
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a-fallin’,
That Sir John Graheme, in the West Country,
Fell in love with Barbara Allan.
He sent his men down through the town,
To the place where she was dwellin’,
“O haste and come to my master dear,
Gin ye be Barbara Allan.”
O hooly, hooly rose she up,
To the place where he was lyin’,
And when she drew the curtain by,
“Young man, I think ye’re dyin’.”
“O I’m sick, and very, very sick,
And ’tis a’ for Barbara Allan.
O the better for me ye’s never be,
Tho your heart’s blood were a-spillin’.
“O dinna ye mind, young man,” said she,
“When ye was in the tavern a drinkin’,
Ye made the healths gae round and round,
And slighted Barbara Allan?”
He turn’d his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealin’:
“Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allan.”
And slowly, slowly raise she up,
And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighing said, she could not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.
She had not gane a mile but twa,
When she heard the dead-bell ringin’,
And every jow that the dead-bell geid,
It cried, “Woe to Barbara Allan!”
“O mother, mother, make my bed!
O make it saft and narrow!
Since my love died for me to-day,
I’ll die for him to-morrow.”
Barbara Allen (updated version)
In Scarlet Town, not far from here
There was a fair maid a-dwellin’
Her name was known both far and near
Her name was Barbara Allen
T’was the merry month of May
When green leaves were a-springin’
Poor William on his death bed laid
For the love of Barbara Allen
He sent his man into town
To the place where she was dwellin’
“Master bids your company
If your name be Barbara Allen.”
Slowly, slowly she got up
To the place where he was lyin’
All she said as she passed his bed,
“Young man, I think you are dyin’.”
“O yes, I’m sick, very sick
And death in me is swellin’.
All I long for is the love of one,
The love of Barbara Allen.”
“Don’t you remember in yonder town
When we were at the tavern?
You gave a toast to each lady ‘round
But you slighted Barbara Allen!”
“O yes, I remember in yonder town
When we were at the tavern.
I gave a toast to each lady ‘round
And my heart to Barbara Allen.”
He turned his face to the wall
As death came creepin’ on him
“Fare thee well, fare thee well to all.
Fare thee well, Barbara Allen.”
Then lightly tripped she down the stairs
She heard those church bells tollin’
And each bell said as it tolled,
“Hard-hearted Barbara Allen.”
She turned to the east and then the west
She saw his body comin’
“Put him down and leave him there,
So I can gaze upon him.”
The more she gazed, the more she moaned
Til she could not stop cryin’
“Pick him up, take him away,
For my heart too is dyin’.”
“O Father, father go dig my grave
And dig it long and narrow.
Poor William died for me today,
And I will die for him tomorrow.”
They buried Barbara in the old church yard
They buried poor William nigh her
Out of his grave grew a red, red rose.
And out of hers a briar.
They grew and grew up the old church wall
Til they could grow no higher
And at the top twined in a lovers’ knot
The red rose and the briar
In Scarlet Town, not far from here
There was a fair maid a-dwellin’
Her name was known both far and near
Her name was Barbara Allen
