Well, it was the merry month of May
And the green buds, they were swellin'
Sweet William, he rode from the west country
When he saw that Barby Allen

Well, he sent his servant down to her
In the place where she was dwellin'
Saying "my master bids you join him nigh,
if your name be Barby Allen"

And he sent his servant down to her
In the place where she was dwellin'
Saying "my master bids you join him nigh,
if your name be Barby Allen"

And slowly, slowly got she up,
and slowly when she joined him
And as she [?]
She said, "young man, I think you're dying"
And slowly, slowly got she up,
and slowly when she joined him
And as she walked by his face,
She said, "young man, I think you're dying"

Gently crept she down the steps,
While the church bells, they were tollin'
And each bell it seemed to say as it tolled,
"Hard-hearted, Barby Allen"
"Mother, father, make my bed
And make it long and narrow
Well sweet William, he died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow"

Well they buried Barbara in the old churchyard
And they buried sweet William beside her
And out of his grave, grew a red rose
And out of hers, a briar

Well they grew, and they grew,
Up the old church yard
'Til they could grow no higher
And at the top
In a lover's knot
The red rose and the briar
The red rose and the briar