Barbry Ellen (Barbara Allen)

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

He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwelling
Saying master's sick and he sent this 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 dying"

Oh yes I'm low, I'm very low
And death is on me dwelling
No better, no better I'll ever be
If I can't get Barbry Ellen

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

For don't you remember in yonder's town
In yonder's town a-drinking
You passed your glass all around and around
And you slighted Barbry Ellen

Oh yes I remember in yonder's town
In yonder's town a-drinking
I gave my health to the ladies all around
But my heart to Barbry Ellen

He turned his pale face to the wall
For death was on him dwelling
Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all
Adieu sweet Barbry Ellen

As she was going across the field
She heard those death bells a-knelling
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'll die for him tomorrow

Oh she was buried 'neath the old church tower
And he was buried 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 couldn't grow no higher
They locked in tight in a true lover's knot
Red rose wrapped round the green briar