- It was in and about the Martinmas' time,
- When the green leaves were a-falling,
- That Sir John Graeme from the West country
- Fell in love with Barbara Allen.
- He sent his men down through the town
- To the place where she was dwelling,
- "O haste an' come to my master dear,
- Gin ye be Barbara Allen."
- O hooly, hooly rase she up
- Till she cam where he was lyin,
- An' when she drew the curtains roun
- Said, "Young man, I think ye're dyin."
- "I am sick an' very very sick,
- An it's a' for Bawbie Allan."
- "But the better for me ye never shall be
- Though your heart's blood were a-spillin.
- "O don't you mind, young man", she said,
- "When in the tavern callin,
- Ye made the toasts gang roun an' roun,
- But ye slighted Bawbie Allan."
- "A kiss o you would do me good,
- My bonnie Bawbie Allan."
- "But a kiss o me ye sanna get,
- Though your heart's blood were a-spillin".
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- He's turned his face untae the wa',
- For death was wi him dealin,
- Said, "Fare ye weel, my kind friends a',
- But be kind to Bawbie Allan.
- "Put in your han' at my bedside,
- An' there ye'll find a warran',
- A napkin full o my heart's blood,
- Gie that to Bawbie Allan."
- Slowly, slowly, rase she up
- An slowly, slowly, left him,
- An' sighin said she could not stay
- Since death o life had reft him.
- She hadna gane a mile but ane,
- When she heard the dead bell knellin,
- An' ilka toll that the dead bell gae
- Said, Woe to Bawbie Allan.
- In them cam her father dear,
- Said, "Bonnie Bawbie, tak him."
- "It's time to bid me tak him noo
- When ye know his coffin's makin.
- "In then cam her brother dear,
- Said, "Bonnie Bawbie, tak him."
- "It's time to bid tak him noo,
- When his grave-claes is a-makin."
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- Then in cam her sisters dear,
- Said, "Bonnie Bawbie, tak him."
- "It's time to bid me tak him noo,
- Whan my heart it is a-brakin."
- "O mother dear, o mak my bed,
- An' mak it saft an' narrow;
- My love has died for me to-day,
- I'll die for him to-morrow.
- O father deir, o mak my bed,
- An' mak it saft an narrow;
- My luve has dyed for me to-day,
- An I will dye o' sorrow."
- Barb'ry Allen was buried in the old church-yard,
- Sweet William was buried beside her,
- Out of Sweet William's heart there grew a rose,
- Out of Barb'ry Allen's, a briar.
- They grew an grew in the old church-yard,
- Till they could grew no higher;
- At the end they form'd a true-lover's knot
- And the rose grew 'round the briar.
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