Cisco Houston Web Site

The Songs He Sang

Barbara Allen: Lyrics

As performed by Cisco Houston

Traditional

Appears on:
All in all in the month of May
When the flowers they were blooming
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

He sent a servant unto her
In the town where she was dwelling
"Come Miss, oh come, to my master dyin'
If your name be Barbara Allen"

Well slowly slowly got she up
And slowly drew she nigh him
She drew the curtain to one side
"Young man you're dying

Remember, 'member in the town
Was in the tavern drinkin'
Well you gave a toast to the ladies all
But you slighted Barbara Allen"

"Oh, I remember in the town
T'was in the tavern drinkin'
When I gave a toast to the ladies all
But my heart to Barbara Allen"

Sweet William was buried in one graveyard
Barbara Allen in another
And a rose grew on Sweet William's grave
And a briar on Barbara Allen's

Well they grew and grew to the steeple top
And there they grew no higher
And there they tied in a true love's knot
The rose clung round the briar

Of note:

I'm probably missing something implied in this song too, but this one does nothing for me as a lyric, though Cisco again brings a classic interpretation to it.

We welcome any suggestions, contributions, or questions. You send it, we'll consider using it. Help us spread the word. And the music. And thanks for visiting.