Barbry Ellen

Lyrics

[Verse 1] 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 [Verse 2] He sent his servant to the town To the place where she was dwellin' Saying, "Master's sick and he sends for you If your name be Barbry Ellen" [Verse 3] 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'" [Chorus 1] Oh, yes, I'm low, I'm vеry low And death is on me dwellin' No bеtter, no better I'll never 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 [Verse 4] 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? [Verse 5] 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 [Verse 6] He turned his pale face to the wall For death was on him dwellin' Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all Adieu, sweet Barbry Ellen [Verse 7] 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 [Verse 8] 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 [Chorus 2] 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 knot Red rose wrapped 'round the green briar