[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, Masters sick and he sends for you If your name be Barbry Ellen [Verse 3] So slowly, slowly she got up And slowly she came anigh him And all she said when she got there Young man, I believe youre dyin [Chorus 1] Oh, yes, Im low, Im vry low And death is on me dwellin No btter, no better Ill never be If I cant get Barbry Ellen Oh, yes, youre low, and very low And death is on you dwellin No better, no better youll never be For you cant get Barbry Ellen [Verse 4] For dont you remember in yonder stand In yonder stand adrinkin 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 evry stroke the death bell give Hardhearted Barbry Ellen [Verse 8] Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, go make my bed Go make it both long and narrow Young Williams died for me today And Ill 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 Barbrys 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 lovers knot Red rose wrapped round the green briar
barbry, ellen, dwellin, death, adieu