[Chorus]
Carrie, darlin', Carrie
Carrie Brown, I cried
If I can't marry Carrie Brown
Believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys
Believe I'd rather die

[Verse 1]
The first time I saw Carrie Brown
She was so young and fair
A voice like spring rain fallin' down
And sunlight in her hair
I'd never seen her face before
So I asked all around
Said her daddy owns a grocery store
She lives in Bristol town

[Chorus]
Carrie, darlin', Carrie
Carrie Brown, I cried
If I can't marry Carrie Brown
Believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys
Believe I'd rather die
[Verse 2]
I laid my last ten dollars down
Though I didn't need a thing
Just to touch sweet Carrie Brown
When she handed me my change
I hung around 'til closin' time
Scarce believed my eyes
My darlin' walking arm in arm
With a boy named Billy Wise

[Chorus]
Carrie, darlin', Carrie
Carrie Brown, I cried
If I can't marry Carrie Brown
Believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys
Believe I'd rather die

[Verse 3]
I walked around in Bristol town
A bitter broken man
A heart that pined for Carrie Brown
And a pistol in my hand
We met again on State Street
Poor Billy Wise and me
I shot him in Virginia
And he died in Tennessee
[Chorus]
Carrie, darlin', Carrie
Carrie Brown, I cried
If I can't marry Carrie Brown
Believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys
Believe I'd rather die

[Verse 4]
Now I'm down in the Bristol jail
And all I do is cry
Because the jury found me guilty
And the judge says I must die
I'm just a poor young mountain boy
Ain't never been to town
I've come to ruination
For the love of Carrie Brown

[Chorus]
Carrie, darlin', Carrie
Carrie Brown, I cried
If I can't marry Carrie Brown
Believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys
Believe I'd rather die