[Verse 1]
T'was in the merry month of May
When green buds all were swelling
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For love of Barbara Allen

[Verse 2]
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"

[Verse 3]
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"

[Verse 4]
He turned his face unto the wall
And death was in him welling
"Goodbye, goodbye to my friends all
Be good to Barbara Allen"

[Verse 5]
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"
[Verse 6]
"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"

[Verse 7]
"And father, oh father, go dig my grave
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died on yesterday
And I will die tomorrow"

[Verse 8]
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

[Verse 9]
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