In London town where I was born

There lived a fair maid dwellin'

Made every youth cry well away

And her name was Barbara Allen



I sent a servant to your town

Where Barbara she was dwellin'

My master sent and he sent for you

If your name is Barbara Allen



T'was in the merry month of May

When all the flowers were a-bloomin'

A young man on his death bed lay

For the love of Barbara Allen



Oh Nellie Mae on her way home

Were the words so sweet love singin'

And as they sang they seemed to say

Hard hearted Barbara Allen



Oh the more she ran oh the more she mourned

'Till she could not stop her cyin'

Oh pick me up and take me home

For I am surely a-dyin'



Oh father my father go dig my grave

Go dig it long and narrow

Sweet William died for me today

So I'll die for him tomorrow



Oh they buried her in the old churchyard

Buried sweet William down beside her

On William's grave grew a red red rose

On Barbara's grew a great briar



Oh it grew to the top of the old churchyard

It grew till It could not grow no higher

And there they tied in a true love's knot

The red red rose 'round the briar