Barbara Allen

In Charlotte town not far from here
There was a fair maid dwellin'
And her name was known both far and near
And her name was Barbara Allen.

'T was in the merry month of may
The green buds there were swellin'
Poor William on his dead bed lay
For a lover, Barbara Allen.

He sent his man down to town
To the place that she was dwellin'
Sayin', "Master bids your company
If your name is Barbara Allen.''

Oh slowly, slowly she got up
To the place where he was lyin'
And when she pulled the curtain by
Said, "Young man I believe is dying.''

"Oh yes, oh yes i'm very sick
And I sure not will get better
Unless I have the love of one
The love of Barbara Allen.''

"Don't you remember not long ago
The day down in the tavern
You toasted all the ladies there
But you slighted Barbara Allen.''

"Oh yes, oh yes i remember well
That day down in the tavern
I toasted all the ladies there
But i gave my heart to Barbara Allen.''

She looked till east, she looked till west
She saw his pale corpse a-comin'
Cryin', "Put him down and leave him nigh
So I might gaze upon him.''

The more she gazed, the more she moaned
Until she burst out cryin'
Sayin', "I beg you come and take him 'way
For my heart now too is a-dyin'.''

"Oh, father, father come dig my grave
Dig it wide and narrow
For William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow.''

They buried him in the old church yard
They buried her beside him
And from his heart grew a red, red rose
And from her heart a briar.

They grew, they grew so awful high
Till they could grow no higher
It was there they tied a lover's knot
The red rose and the briar.

In Charlotte town not far from here
There was a maid a-dwellin'
And her name was known both far an' near
An' her name was Barbara Allen.