Barbara Allen

1. In Scarlet Town, where I was bound,
 there was a fair maid dwellin’,
Whom I had chosen to be my own,
 and her name it was Barb’ra Allèn*.

2. All in the merry month of May,
 when green leaves they was springin’,
This young man on his death-bed lay,
 for the love of Barb’ra Allèn.

3. He sent his man unto her then,
 to the town where she was dwellin’:
‘You must come to my master dear,
 if your name be Barb’ra Allèn.

4. ‘For death is printed in his face,
 and sorrow’s in him dwellin’,
And you must come to my master dear,
 if your name be Barb’ra Allèn.’

5. ‘If death be printed in his face,
 and sorrow’s in him dwellin’,
Then little better shall he be
 for bonnȳ Barb’ra Allèn.’

6. So slowlȳ, slowlȳ she got up,
 and so slowlȳ she came to him,
And all she sa͞id when she came there,
 ‘yọung man, I think you are a dyin’.’

7. He turned his face unto her then:
 ‘if you be Barb’ra Allèn,
My dear,’ said he, ‘Come pitȳ me,
 as on my death bed I am lyin’.’

8. ‘If on your death-bed you be lyin’,
 what is that to Barb’ra Allèn?
I cannot keep you from your death;
 so farewell’, sa͞id Barb’ra Allèn.

9. He turned his face unto the wall,
 and death came creepin’ to him:
‘Then adie᷍u, adie᷍u, and adie᷍u to all,
 and adie᷍u to Barb’ra Allèn!’

10. And as she was walkin’ on a day,
 she heard the bell a-ringin’,
And it did seem to ring to her:
 ‘unwȯrthȳ Barb’ra Allèn’.

11. She turned herself round about,
 and she spied the corps a-comin’:
‘Lay down, lay down the corps of clay,
 that I may look upon him.’

12. And all the while she looked on,
 so loudlȳ she lay laughin’,
While all her friends cried out amain:
 ‘unwȯrthȳ Barb’ra Allèn!’

13. When he was dead, and laid in grave,
 then death came creepin’ to she:
‘O mother, mother, make my bed,
 for his death hath quite undone me.

14. ‘A hard-hearted creature that I was,
 to slight ōne that loved me so dearlȳ;
I wish I had been more kinder to him,
 the time of his life when he was near me.’

15. So this maid she then did die,
 and desi͞red to be buried by him,
And repented her self before she died,
 that ever she did deny him.