Mary Alling
Trad. from the singing of Oscar DeGreenia of West Cornwall, CT

1. 'Twas in the springtime of the year,
when all the flowers were blooming.
A young man on his dying bed, in love with Mary Alling.

2. Slowly she rose, slowly she rose.
Slowly she came nigh him. When she got there,
"Young man," she said, "I really think you're dying."

3. "A dying man I never should be.
One kiss from you would save me."
"One kiss from me you never shall have,
if your heart was really a-breaking."

4. "Do you remember in the dancing hall,
when all the music were ringing?
You danced around with all the rest and slighted Mary Alling."

5. "Do you remember to your father's house,
to a place called Dwelling?
You shared the wine with all the rest, and slighted Mary Alling."

6. "You look to the head of my bed,
there is a napkin hanging, Into it is my gold watch and chain.
It's all for Mary Alling."

7. "Look to the side of my bed.
There is a basin standing.
It quite o'erflows with my heart's blood I shed for Mary Alling."

8. As she was standing in her father's gate
she heard the church bell tolling
And every time that church bell tolled it sounded 'Mary Alling.'

9. As she was standing in her father's gate
she saw the hearse a-coming.
"Pull down, pull down that cold, cold corpse that I may gaze upon him."

10. The more she gazed the more she scorned.
The more she gazed upon him. Until the girls did all cry out,
" A shame on Mary Alling."

11. "O mother, mother, go make my bed.
Go make it long and narrow.
My true love died for me today, I'll die for him tomorrow."

12. "O father, father, go dig my grave.
Go dig it long and narrow. My true love died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."

13. And on his grave there grew a rose, and onto hers a briar.