Barbara Allen lyrics by Emmylou Harris, 1 meaning, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Emmylou Harris – Barbara Allen lyrics
Was in the merry month of May
When all gay flowers were a bloomin',
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.

He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwelling
Said, "You must come to my master's house,
If your name be Barbara Allen. "

So slowly, slowly she gets up,
And to his bedside going
She drew the curtains to one side
And says, "Young man, you're dying."

"I know, I'm sick and very low,
And sorrow dwells within me
No better, no better I never will be.
Til I have Barbara Allen. "

"Don't you remember last Saturday night
When I was at the tavern,
You gave your drinks to the ladies there
But you slighted Barbara Allen? "

He reached up his pale white hands
Intending for to touch her
She turned away from his bedside
And says, "Young man I won't have you."

He turned his cheek into the wall
And bursted out a crying
"What I do to thee I do to all
And I do to Barbara Allen. "

She had not walked and reached the town
She heard the death bells ringing
And as they rolled they seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen."

"Oh Mother, oh mother go make my bed
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow. "

Sweet William was buried in the old church yard
And Barbara there anigh him,
And out of his grave grew a red, red rose,
And out of hers, a briar.

They grew and grew to the old churchyard,
Where they couldn't grow no higher,
And there they tied in a true love's knot.
The rose wrapped around the briar.
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Lyrics taken from /lyrics/e/emmylou_harris/barbara_allen.html

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Songwriters: J BAIRD, PD TRADITIONAL, TRADITIONAL
Barbara Allen lyrics © BMG Rights Management, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Submitted by rebelmedic

Barbara Allen meanings

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    A young woman who had been taught to hold her love as a virtue until she could not show emotion. A young man lay dying for her love to be expressed, but she could not allow herself to act frivolous with her heart. No matter how much it hurt her or him. After she heard the death bells she knew it was him and knew that her heart ached as badly as his had only she could not bring herself to exercise a display of affection even in her dying. She just asked that her place be made so she could be laid beside him. The red rose would grow from a grave that could show his desires, yet, even in death she could not show hers. For eternity their love would be for all to see yet hers would still be unable to display affection as the rose was wrapped around the briar.
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      A young woman who had been taught to hold her love as a virtue until she could not show emotion. A... Read more →

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