All in the merry month of May
When the green buds they were swellin'
Young William Green on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbry Ellen
He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwellin'
Saying "Master's sick and he send for you,
If your name be Barbry Ellen."
So slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she came a' nigh him
And all she said when she got there
Young man I believe you're dyin'
Oh yes I'm low, I'm very low
And death is on me dwellin'
No better, no better I never will be
If I can't get Barbry Ellen
Oh yes you're low, and very low
And death is on you dwellin'
No better, no better you'll never be
For you can't get Barbry Ellen
For don't you remember in yonder stand
In yonder stand a' drinkin'
You passed your glass all around and around
And you slighted Barbry Ellen
Oh yes I remember in yonder stand
In yonder stand a drinkin'
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'
Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all
Adieu sweet Barbry Ellen
As she was goin' across the fields
She heard those death bells a' knellin'
And ev'ry 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'll die for him tomorrow
Oh she was buried 'neath the old church tower
And he was buried all nigh her
And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose
Out of Barbry's grew a green briar
They grew and they grew up the old church tower
Until they could grow no higher
They locked in tight in a true lover's not
Red rose around the green briar