Dolly Parton

Released: September 27, 1994

Songwriter: Traditional

Producer: Steve Buckingham

[Verse 1]
In London town where I was born
There lived a fair maid dwelling
Made every youth cry well away
And her name was Barbara Allen

[Verse 2]
I sent a servant to your town
Where Barbara she was dwelling
My master sent and he sent for you
If your name is Barbara Allen

[Verse 3]
T'was in the merry month of May
When all the flowers were a-blooming
A young man on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

[Verse 4]
Oh Nellie Mae on her way home
Were the words so sweet love singing
And as they sang they seemed to say
Hard hearted Barbara Allen

[Verse 5]
Oh the more she ran oh the more she mourned
'Till she could not stop her crying
Oh pick me up and take me home
For I am surely a-dyin'

[Verse 6]
Oh father my father go dig my grave
Go dig it long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
So I'll die for him tomorrow

[Verse 7]
Oh they buried her in the old churchyard
Buried sweet William down beside her
On William's grave grew a red red rose
On Barbara's grew a great briar

[Verse 8]
Oh it grew to the top of the old churchyard
It grew till It could not grow no higher
And there they tied in a true love's knot
The red red rose 'round the briar

Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music

Beginning her career as a child performer, Parton issued a few modestly successful singles from 1959 through the mid-1960s, showcasing her distinctive soprano voice. She came to greater prominence in 1967 as a featured performer on singer Porter Wagoner’s weekly television program; their first duet single, a cover of Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing on My Mind”, was a top-ten hit on the country singles charts, and led to several successful albums before they ended their partnership in 1974. Moving towards mainstream pop music, Parton’s 1977 single “Here You Come Again” was a success on both the country and pop charts. A string of pop-country hits followed into the mid-1980s, the most successful being her 1981 hit 9 to 5" (from the film of the same name), and her 1983 duet with Kenny Rogers “Islands in the Stream”, both of which topped the U.S. pop and country singles charts. A pair of albums recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris were among her later successes. In the late 1990s, Parton returned to classic country/bluegrass with a series of acclaimed recordings

more tracks from the album

Heartsongs: Live From Home

From the album

Heartsongs: Live From Home (1994)

Dolly Parton popular songs

Barbara AllenDolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Heartsongs: Live From Home