Barb’ry Allen – Shirley Collins

BARBARA ALLEN
As recorded by Joan Baez
(From the 1961 Album JOAN BAEZ, VOL. 2)
 
 
 
Capo 4th fret
 
 
 
[Intro]
C
 
 
[Verse 1]
            G              C
Twas in the merry month of May
                F        C
When green buds all were swelling
              F      C         Am
Sweet William on his death bed lay
      C       G       C
For a love of Barbara Allen
 
 
[Verse 2]
            G              C
He sent his servant to the town
                   F       C
To the place where she was dwelling
                F           C      Am
Saying you must come, to my master dear
        C       G       C
If your name be Barbara Allen
 
 
[Verse 3]
           G              C
So slowly, slowly she got up
           F        C
And slowly she drew nigh him
             F        G       Am
And the only words to him did say
      C     G7           C
Young man I think you're dying
 
 
[Verse 4]
              G             C
He turned his face unto the wall
              F      C
And death was in him welling
          F               Am
Good-bye, good-bye, to my friends all
           G7      C
Be good to Barbara Allen
 
 
[Verse 5]
            G                C
When he was dead and laid in grave
              F           C
She heard the death bells knelling
          F                 Am
And every stroke to her did say
     C       G       C
Hard hearted Barbara Allen
 
 
[Verse 6]
              G                C
Oh mother, oh mother go dig my grave
             F        C
Make it both long and narrow
              F       C        Am
Sweet William died of love for me
    C      G      C
And I will die of sorrow
 
 
[Verse 7]
               G                 C
And father, oh father, go dig my grave
             F        C
Make it both long and narrow
              F       C     Am
Sweet William died on yesterday
    C      G7    C
And I will die tomorrow
 
 
[Verse 8]
                  G             C
Barbara Allen was buried in the old churchyard
                  F        C
Sweet William was buried beside her
                       F            G      Am
Out of sweet William's heart, there grew a rose
       C       G         C
Out of Barbara Allen's a briar
 
 
[Verse 9]
              G                     C
They grew and grew in the old churchyard
                F       C
Till they could grow no higher
           F              G      Am
At the end they formed, a true lover's knot
        C         G         C F C
And the rose grew round the briar