The Bramble Briar

In Strawberry Town there lived a farmer
He had two sons and a daughter dear
And day and night they was contriving to
Fill their poor parents hearts with fear
The eldest one he said to the other
See how our sister do sport and play
With that young serving man her lover
We'll send him silent to the grave
A match of hunting it was prepared through
Woods and valleys where the briars do grow
And there they did that young man murder
And in the thorny brake his body throw
Now when these two did come home from hunting
Their sister asked for her serving man
I ask because I seen you whisper, pray tell me brothers if you can
Oh sister, sister, you do offend us and why do you so examine me
We left him in the field a-hunting and no more of him did we see
Then straight to bed went this fair young
Woman, lamenting for her own true love
She dreamed she saw him stand by her pillow
His shirt and coat they was drenched with blood
It's rise up early in the morning and
Straightway to that brake you'll go
And there you'll find my body lying
Your cruel brothers caused my overthrow
Then she rose early in the morning
And straightway to that brake did go
And there she found his body lying in that
Same thorny brake where the briars do grow
The blood that on his lips was drying
His tears were salt as any brine
She often kissed him, sometimes crying
Here lies the boldest friend of mine
Since my two brothers have been so cruel
To take your tender sweet life away
This one grave will hold us both together
Along with you until death I'll stay