Barbry Ellen

All in the merry month of May
When green buds they were swelling
Young William Green on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbry Ellen

He sent his son unto the town
To the place she was dwelling
Saying Master's sick and he sends for you
If your name be Barbry Ellen

So slow-ly slow-ly she got up
And slow-ly she came a-nigh him
And all she said when she got there:
"Young man I believe you're dying"

Oh yes I'm low, I'm very low
And Death is on me dwelling
No better no better no better I'll never be
If I can't get Barbry Ellen

Oh yes you're low, you're very low
And Death is on you dwelling
No better no better no better you'll never be
For you can't get Barbry Ellen

For don't you remember in yonder stone
In younder stone a-drinking
You cast your glass all around and round
And slighted Barbry Ellen

Oh yes, I remember in yonder stone
In yonder stone a-drinking
I gave my health to the ladies all around
But not to Barbry Ellen

He turned his pale face to the wall
For Death was on him dwellin'
I do I do I do you good neighbors all
I do sweet Barbry Ellen

As she was going across the field
She heard those death bells telling
And every stroke the death bell give
Hard-hearted Barbry Ellen

Oh mother, oh mother go make my bed
Go make it both long and narrow
Young William's died for me today
And I die for him tomorrow

Oh she was burried 'neath the old church tower
And he was burried ta nigh her
And out of his bosom grew the red, red rose
And out of her's grew a green briar

They grew and they grew up the old church tower
'Til they could grow no higher
They locked and tied in a true lover's knot
Red rose wrapped 'round the green briar