E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Intro:
1, 2, 3, (wait 1 beat)

   G     G
E|------------------|
B|------------------|
G|-------0h2-0------|
D|-----0------------|
A|---2---------3----|
E|-3-------------2h3|

Verse 1:
      G                   C               G
Dear Sarah I’m stuck on a train bound for Richmond.
   C                 G           D
We marched down from Kernstown uphill all the way.
       G                          C             G
At the train stop in Staunton, we pulled up and climbed on
C            G               D           G
Then we just sat there for a night and a day.

Chorus:
G                  D                    G
And the nights are long, but I write you ev’ry day.
            D            G
And I hum a song that you used to sing.
                             C             G
The one of sweet William his love, Barbara Allen
    C           G        D           G
And how she was always a long ways away.

G 

Verse 2:
   G                         C             G
My insides are all torn from hard tack and parch corn.
   C             G                D
My hat flew in a windstorm so the sun has turned me red.
    G                           C             G
The first chance to lie still I pull out your Bible
    C           G           D            G
But fall fast asleep before one verse is read.

(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3:
      G                    C          G
Dear Sarah in parting keep me in your heart.
  C               G               D
I do not drink or gamble ‘cause I promised you I’d do.
      G                    C                G
So as not to mislead you I did have a need to
     C       G              D                   G
When we were surrounded and looked like we were through.  

(Repeat Chorus)

Tag:
    G                         C            G
The one of sweet William, his love Barbara Allen
    C           G        D           G
And how she was always a long ways away.

Ending:
           G    C      G                  D           G
In Scarlet Town, I did dwell. There was a fair maid a-dwellin’.
       C               G                   D       G
Many a lad, cried well today, for the love Barbara Allen.

G

Outro:

   G
E|-----0---|
B|-----0---|
G|-----0---|
D|-0---0---|
A|---2-2---|
E|-----3---|