Tw as in the m erry month of M ay
When green buds a ll were sw ellin
Sweet W illiam o n his d eath bed l ay
For l ove of B arbara A llen.
He sent his s ervant to the t own
To the place where s he was d wellin
Sayin g "You must c ome to my m aster d ear
If your n ame be B arb'ry A llen."
So slowly s lowly she got u p
And slowly s he drew n igh him
And the only w ords to h im did s ay
"Young m an I t hink you're d yin."
He turned his f ace unto the w all
And death was i n him w ellin
"Good-b ye good-b ye to my friends al l
Be g ood to B arb'ry A llen."
When he was d ead and laid in g rave
She heard the d eath bells K nellin
And ev ery s troke to h er did s ay:
"Hard-h earted B arb'ry A llen."
"Oh mother oh m other go dig my g rave
Make it both l ong and n arrow;
Sweet Wi lliam d ied of l ove for m e
And I will d ie of s orrow."
"And father oh f ather go dig my g rave
Make it both l ong and n arrow
Sweet W illiam d ied o n yesterd ay
And I will d ie tom orrow."
Barb'ry Allen was b uried in the old church-y ard
Sweet William was b uried beside her;
Out of Sw eet William's h eart there g rew a r ose
Out o f Barb'ry A llen's a briar.
They grew and g rew in the old church-y ard
Til they could g row no h igher;
At the e nd they f ormed a true l overs' k not
And the r ose grew r ound the b riar.