Barbry Ellen Songtext
von Jean Ritchie

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 Barb′ry Ellen
He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwelling
Saying, "Master's sick and he sends for you
If your name be Barb′ry Ellen"

So slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she came anigh 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 never be
If I can't get Barb′ry Ellen"


"Oh yes, you're low and very low
And death is on you dwelling
No better, no better you′ll never be
For you can't get Barb′ry 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 Barb′ry 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 Barb'ry Ellen"

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

As she was going across the fields
She heard those death bells a-knelling
And every stroke the death bell give
Hard-hearted Barb'ry 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 anigh her
And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose
Out of Barb′ry′s grew a green briar
They grew and they grew up the old church tower
Until they could grow no higher
They locked and tied in a true lover's knot
Red rose wrapped around the green briar