• Barbara Allen
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    In Scarlet town where I was born
    There was a fair maid dwelling
    And every youth cried well away
    For her name was Barbara Allen

    Twas in the merry month of May
    The green buds were a swelling
    Sweet William on his deathbed lay
    For the love of Barbara Allen

    He sent a servant unto her
    To the place she was dwelling
    Saying you must come to his deathbed now
    If your name be Barbara Allen

    Slowly slowly she got up
    Slowly slowly she came nigh him
    And the only words to him she said
    Young man I think you're dying

    As she was walking oer the fields
    She heard the death bell knelling
    And every stroke it seemed to say
    Hardhearted Barbara Allen

    Oh mother mother make my bed
    Make it long and make it narrow
    Sweet William died for me today
    I'll die for him tomorrow

    They buried her in the old churchyard
    They buried him in the choir
    And from his grave grew a red red rose
    From her grave a green briar

    They grew and grew to the steeple top
    Till they could grow no higher
    And there they twined in a true love's knot
    Red rose around green briar

    This was sung by Joan Baez with the Dead on 12 and 31 December 1981'

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This was sung by Joan Baez with the Dead on 12 and 31 December 1981'

Lyrics By
Traditional
Music By
Traditional
Lyrics

In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
And every youth cried well away
For her name was Barbara Allen

Twas in the merry month of May
The green buds were a swelling
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

He sent a servant unto her
To the place she was dwelling
Saying you must come to his deathbed now
If your name be Barbara Allen

Slowly slowly she got up
Slowly slowly she came nigh him
And the only words to him she said
Young man I think you're dying

As she was walking oer the fields
She heard the death bell knelling
And every stroke it seemed to say
Hardhearted Barbara Allen

Oh mother mother make my bed
Make it long and make it narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow

They buried her in the old churchyard
They buried him in the choir
And from his grave grew a red red rose
From her grave a green briar

They grew and grew to the steeple top
Till they could grow no higher
And there they twined in a true love's knot
Red rose around green briar