[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