In Scarlett Town where i was born there was a fair maid dwelling and her name was no both far or near and her name was Barbara Allen 'twas in the merry month of May the greenbards they were swelling for William on his death-bed laid for the love of Barbara Allen he sent his men down to town to the place where she was dwelling say "master begs your company if your name be Barbara Allen" slowly, slowly, she got up to the place where he was lying and when she pulled the curtain back said "young man, i believe you're dying" "oh yes, oh yes, i'm very sick and i shall not get better unless i have the love of one the love of Barbara Allen" "don't you remember, not long ago that night down in the tavern you toasted all the ladies there but you slighted Barbara Allen" "oh yes, oh yes, i remember it well that day down in the tavern i toasted all the ladies there but i gave my heart to Barbara Allen" she was walking near the yonder field she could hear them death bells knelling and every toll seemed to say "hard-hearted Barbara Allen" the more they tolled, the more she wept 'til her heart was filled with sorrow Sweet William died for me today i will die for him tomorrow they buried him in the old churchyard they buried her beside him and from his heart grew a red red-rose and from her heart a briar they grew, they grew so awfully high 'til they could grow no higher and 'twas there they tied a lovers' knot the red-rose and the briar in Scarlett Town, not far from here there was a maid a-dwelling and her name was no both far or near and they called her Barbara Allen