Barbara Allen

Barbara Allen - Pete Seeger

Written by：Traditional

In scarlet town where I was born

There was a fair maid dwelling

Made many a youth cry well a day

Her name was barbara allen

It was in the merry month of may

When green buds they were swelling

Sweet william came from the west country

And he courted barbara allen

He sent his servant unto her

To the place where she was dwelling

Said my master's sick bids me call for you

If your name be barbara 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

Then lightly tripped she down the stairs

She heard those church bells tolling

And each bell seemed to say as it tolled

Hard hearted barbara allen

O mother mother go make my bed

And make it long and narrow

Sweet william died for me today

I'll die for him tomorrow

They buried barbara in the old church yard

They buried sweet william beside her

Out of his grave grew a red red rose

And out of hers a briar

They grew and grew up the old church wall

Till they could grow no higher

And at the top twined a lover's knot

The red rose and the briar