The Cruelty of Barbary Allen

It was in the merry month of May The green buds were swellin' Sweet William on his death bed lay For the love of Barbry Ellen He sent his servant to the town To the place where she was dwellin' "The Master's sick and he send for you, If your name be Barbry Allen." So slow-ly, slow-ly she got up And slow-ly she came a' nigh him And all she said when she got there "Young man I believe you're dyin'." Oh yes I'm low, I'm very low And death is on me dwellin' No better, no better I never will be If I can't have Barbry Allen Oh yes you're low, and very low And death is on you dwellin' No better, no better you'll never be For you can't get Barbry Allen For don't you remember in yonder stand In yonder stand a' drinkin' You passed your glass all round and round But not to Barbry Ellen Oh yes I remember in yonder stand In yonder stand a drinkin' I drained my health to the ladies all around And I slighted Barbry Allen He turned his pale face to the wall For death was on him dwellin' Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all Adieu sweet Barbry Allen As she was goin' across the fields The death bells were a' knellin' And ev'ry stroke the death bell gave Hard-hearted Barbry Allen Oh Mother, oh Mother, make my bed Go make it both long and narrow Sweet Willy's died for me today And I'll die for him tomorrow Oh he was buried in the old church yard And she was buried all nigh him And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose And out of hers a briar They grew and they grew up the old church tower Till they could grow no higher They locked in tight in a true lover's knot Red rose right 'round the briar