Story Behind the Song
This is a very long version of this traditional English ballad. I combined several sources to come up with a version that told the whole story.
Lyrics
BARBARA ALLEN
1. In Scarlet Town where I was born,
There was a fair maid dewllin'.
Made every youth cry, "Well, away!"
Her name was Barbara Allen.
2. All in the merry month of May,
When the green leaves were swellin'
Young Willie on his deathbed lay,
For the love of Barbara Allen.
3. He sent his servant to the town,
To the place where she was dwellin'.
"My master's sick and sent for you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
4. "For death is painted on his face,
And o'er his heart is stealin'.
O, haste away to comfort him,
O lovely Barbara Allen."
5. "If death is printed on his face,
And o'er his heart is stealin'
Yet little better shall he be
For the love of Barbara Allen."
6. So slowly, slowly got she up.
And slowly she drew nigh him.
But all she said when she got there,
Young man I think youre dyin'.
7. He turned his face unto her straight,
With deadly sorrow sighin'.
"O lovely maid come pity me!
I'm on my deathbed lyin'."
8. "Oh ken ye not in yonders town,
When we were at the tavern,
Ye gave a health to the ladies all,
But ye slighted Barbara Allen."
9. "If on your deathbed you do lie,
What need the tale youre tellin'?
I cannot keep you from your death.
Farewell!" said Barbara Allen.
10. Then lightly tripped she down the stairs.
He trembled like an aspen.
Tis vain, tis vain, my dear young man,
To pine for Barbara Allen.
11. He turned his face unto the wall,
For death was in him dwellin.
"Goodbye, kind friends and kinfolk all.
Be kind to Barbara Allen."
12. As she did pass the wooded fields,
She heard his death bell knellin'.
And every stroke hit spoke her name,
"Hard hearted Barbara Allen!"
13. Her eyes looked east. Her eyes looked west.
She saw his pale corpse comin'.
"Oh, bearers, bearers, put him down,
That I may look upon him."
14. The more she looked the more she grieved,
Until she burst out cryin'.
"Oh, bearers, bearers, take him off,
For now I am a-dyin'."
15. "Hard-hearted creature him to slight,
He who loved me so dearly!
Oh, had I been more kind to him,
When he was alive and near me!"
16. When he was dead and laid in grave,
Her heart was struck with sorrow.
"Oh, mother, mother make my bed.
For I shall die tomorrow."
17. "Oh, father dear, go dig my grave.
Go dig it deep and narrow.
Sweet Willie died of love for me,
And I shall die of sorrow."
18. On her deathbed as she did lay,
She begged to be buried beside him,
And sorely repented of that day
That e'er she did deny him.
19. "Farewell ye virgins all," she said,
"And shun the fault Ive fell in.
Henceforth take warning by the fall
Of cruel Barbara Allen."
20. Barbara Allen was buried in the old church yard.
Sweet Willies grave beside her.
And from his heart grew a red, red rose,
And from her heart a briar.
21. They grew themselves to the old church wall,
Till they couldn't grow no higher.
They grew till they tied a true lovers knot,
The red rose round the briar.
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