Bonny Barbara Allen, anonymous (c.

1500)

It was in and about the Martinmas time, November 11

When the green leaves were a-falling,
That Sir John Graeme, in the West country,
Fell in love with Barbara Allen.

He sent his men down through the town

To the place where she was dwelling: living
hurry up
"O haste and come to my master dear, if you are
Gin ye be Barbara Allen."

O hooly, hooly rose she up, slowly

To the place where he was lying,
And when she drew the curtain by'
"Young man, I think you're dying."

"O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,

And it's a' for Barbara Allen;" all
"O the better for me you shall never be,
Though your heart's blood were a spilling."

"O dinna ye mind, young man," she said, don't you remember
"When the red wine ye were filling,
drank some toasts;
That ye made the healths gae round and go
round, upset
And slighted Barbara Allen?"

He turned his face unto the wall,

And death was with him dealing; doing business
goodbye
"Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allen."
Barbara Allen

In Charlottetown not far from here

There was a fair maid a-dwellin’
Her name was known both far and near
Her name was Barbara Allen
Twas in the merry month of May
When green leaves were a-springin’
Poor William on his deathbed he laid
For the love of Barbara Allen
He sent his men into town
To the place where she was dwellin’
(They) said “Master bids your company
If your name be Barbara Allen.”
Well slowly, slowly she got up
To the place where he was lyin’
And all she said as she passed his bed
was, “Young man, I believe you’re dyin’.”
(He said) “O yes, I’m sick, I’m very sick
And death in me is a-swellin’
And all I long is the love of one
The love of Barbara Allen.”
(She said) “O don’t you remember in yonder
town
When we were at the tavern?
You gave a toast to each lady ‘round
And you slighted Barbara Allen!”
She turned to the east, she turned to the west
She saw his corpse a-comin’
(She said) “Put him down, leave him there
So that I might gaze upon him.”
The more she gazed, the more she moaned
She could not stop from cryin’
Sayin’, “Pick him up, take him away
For my heart now too is dyin’.
“O father, father, come dig my grave
And dig it long and narrow
Poor William died for me today
And I’ll die for him tomorrow.”
They buried Barbara in the old churchyard
Poor William’s buried by her
And from his grave grew a red, red rose
And from hers grew a briar.
They grew, they grew so awful high
‘Til they could not grow much higher
At the top twined a lovers’ knot
The red rose and the briar.
Repeat 1st Stanza.

“O yes, I remember in yonder town

When we were at the tavern
I gave a toast to each lady ‘round
And gave my heart to Barbara Allen.”

[He turned his face unto the wall

And death came creepin’ on him:
“Fare thee well, fare thee well to all,
And fare thee well to Barbara Allen.”]

[Lightly she tripped down the stairs

She heard those church bells a-tollin’
And each bell said as it tolled
“Cold-hearted Barbara Allen.”]