1.
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
when the green leaves were a-fallin’,
That Sir John Gra’m, in the West Country,
fell in love with Barb’ra Allèn*.
2.
He sent his men down through the town,
to the place where she was dwellin’;
‘O haste and come to my master dear,
gin ye be Barb’ra Allèn.’
3.
O hooly, hooly rose she up,
to the place where he was lyin’
And when she drew the curtain by:
‘Young man, I think you’re dyin’.’
4.
‘O it’s I’m sick and very, very sick,
and ’tis a’ for Barb’ra Allèn.’
‘O the better for me ye’s never be,
though your heart’s blo͝od were a-spillin’.
5.
‘O dinna ye mind, young man,’ said she,
‘when ye was in the tavern a-drinkin’,
That ye made the health, gae round and round,
and slighted Barb’ra Allèn?’
6.
He turned his face unto the wall,
and death was with him dealin’:
‘Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
and be kind to Barb’ra Allèn.’
7.
And slowly, slowly raise she up,
and slowly, slowly left him,
And sighin’ said she could not stay,
since death of life had reft him.
8.
She had not gane a mile but twa,
when she heard the dead-bell ringin’,
And every jow that the dead-bell geid,
it cried, ‘Woe to Barb’ra Allèn!’
9.
‘O mother, mother, make my bed,
O make it saft and narrow!
Since my love died for me today,
I’ll die for him tomorrow.’
* For an explanation of the marks added to the letters, see Linguistic notes: English.