All in the merry, merry month of May
When the green buds they were swelling
Young William Green on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbara Ellen

He sent his servant to the door
To the place where she was dwelling
Saying "master's sick, and he sends for you
If your name is Barbara Ellen"


So slowly, slowly, she got up
And so she came nigh him
And all she said when she got there
"Young man, I believe you're dying"


"Oh yes, my love, I am very low
And death is on me dwelling
No better, no better I ever will be
For I can't get Barbara Ellen"

"Oh yes, young lord, you are very low
And death is on you dwelling
No better, no better you ever will be
For you can't get Barbara Ellen"


"For don't you remember in Yonder's Town
In Yonder's Town a drinking?
You passed your glass all around
And you slighted Barbara 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 Barbara Ellen"


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

As she was going across the fields
She heard those death bells knelling
And every stroke of the death bells said
"Hard-hearted Barbara Ellen"


"Oh mother, mother, make my bed
Go make it long and narrow
Young William's died for me today
And I'll die for him tomorrow"

Oh, she was buried in the old church tower
And he was buried nigh her
And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose
And of hers, a briar

They grew and grew, on the old church tower
'Till they could not grow no higher
Then they locked and they tied in a true lover's knot
The red rose around the briar