It was the merry month of May And the green buds, they were swellin' Sweet William, he was in 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' While the church bells, they were tolling 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 A lover's knot The red rose and the briar The red rose and the briar