Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Barbara Allan

Traditional

“Barbara Allan” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 39 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

It was in and about the Martinmas time,

When the green leaves were a-fallin',

That Sir John Graham, in the west countrie,

Fell in love wi' Barbara Allan.

He sent his man down through the town,

To the place where she was dwallin'.

O, haste and come to my master dear,

Gin ye be Barbara Allan.

O, hooly, hooly, rase she up

To the place where he was lyin',

And when she drew the curtain by,

Young man, I think ye're dyin'.

It's oh, I'm sick, I'm very very sick,

And it's a' for Barbara Allan.

O, the better for me ye'se never be,

Though your heart's blude were a-spillin'.

Oh, dinna ye mind, young man, she said,

When ye was in the tavern a-drinkin',

That ye made the healths gae round and round,

And slichtit Barbara Allan?

He turn'd his face unto the wa',

And death was with him dealin:

Adieu, adieu, my dear friends a',

And be kind to Barbara Allan.

And slowly, slowly rase she up,

And slowly, slowly left him,

And sighin', said, she could not stay,

Since death of life had reft him.

She hadna gane a mile but twa,

When she heard the deid-bell ringin',

And every jow that the deid-bell gied,

It cried, Woe to Barbara Allan.

Oh, mother, mother, mak' my bed,

And mak' it saft and narrow;

Since my love died for me to-day,

I'll die for him to-morrow.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Barbara Allan”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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