‘Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds they were swellin'
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwellin'
Said you must come, my Master dear
If your name be Barbara Allen."

So slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she drew a' nigh him
The only words to him she said
Young man I think you're dying

Oh yes I'm low, I'm very low
And death is on me dwellin'
No better, better I’ll never be
If I can't get Barbara Allen

Don't you remember in the stand
In yonder stand a' drinkin'
You passed your glass all around and around
And you slighted Barbara Allen

He turned his pale face to the wall
For death was on him dwellin'
Adieu, adieu, good neighbors all
Adieu sweet Barbara Allen
As she was goin' across the fields
She heard those death bells a' knellin'
And ev'ry stroke the death bell give
Hard-hearted Barbara Allen

Oh Mother, Mother, dig my grave
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William's died of love for me
And I will die of sorrow

They grew and grew in the old church tower
‘Till they could grow no higher
At the end they formed a knot
And the rose grew round the briar