English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians

122 Songs and Ballads, and 323 Tunes With Lyrics & sheet Music - online book

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Barbara Allen
5   He turned his pale face to the wall And bursted out a-crying,
Saying: Adieu to thee, adieu to all, Adieu to Barbara Allen.
6   She had not more than reached the town, She heard the death bells tolling.
She looked to the east, she looked to the west, And saw his pale face coming.
7   Hand down, hand down that corpse of clay And let me gaze upon him.
The more she gazed, the more she grieved, And she bursted out a-crying.
8   Cursed, cursed, be my name, And cursed be my nature,
For this man's life I might have saved If I had done my duty.
9   O mother, O mother, go make my bed, And make it long and narrow.
Sweet William died for me to-day, And I'll die for him tomorrow.
10 Sweet William died on Saturday night, Miss Barbara died on Sunday, The old lady died for the love of both, She died on Easter Monday.
11   Sweet William was carried to one churchyard, Miss Barbara to another.
A briar grew out of one of their graves, A rose tree out of the other.
12   They grew as high as the old church top, They could not grow any higher.
They bound and tied in a true love's knot, For all true lovers to admire.