In Scarlet town where I was born There was a fair maid dwellin’ Made many a youth cry well a-day, And her name was Barb’ry Allen
T’was in the merry month of May When green buds they were a swellin’ Sweet William came from the west country, And he courted Barb’ry Allen
He sent his servant unto her To the place where she was dwellin’ « My master sick, bids me call for you, If your name be Barb’ry Allen »
Well, slowly slowly got she up And slowly went she nigh him, But all she said as she passed his bed « Young man, I think you're dying »
He turned his pale face to the wall, And busted out a cryin’ « Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all, Be kind to Barb’ry Allen »
Well, lightly tripped she down the stairs She heard those church bells tollin’ And each bell seemed to say as it tolled, « Hard-hearted Barb’ry Allen »
And she looked east, and she looked west, She seen his pale corpse a-comin ‘, « Lay down, lay down that corpse of clay, That I may look upon him »
"Oh, mother, mother go make my bed, Go make it long and narrow, Sweet William died for me today I’ll die for him tomorrow."
They buried Sweet William in the old churchyard, They buried Barbara beside him, Out of his grave grew a red, red rose, And out of hers a brier.
They grew and grew up the old church wall, ‘Till they could grow no higher; And at the top twined in a lover's knot The red rose and the brier.
