Issues Songtext
von Lucy Wainwright Roche

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

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

He sent a servant unto her
To the place where she was dwelling
Saying "You must come to his deathbed now
If your name be Barbary Allen."

Well slowly, slowly got she up
And slowly she came nigh him
And the only words to him she said
"Young man, I think you're dyin′."


As she was walking o'er the fields
She heard the death bell knelling
And every stroke it seemed to say
"Hardhearted Barbary Allen."

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

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

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

And there they twined in a true love's knot
Red rose around green briar