Barbriallen

[Verse 1]

'Twas in the merry month of May

When green buds were a-swellin'

Sweet William on his deathbed lay

For the love of Barbriallen

[Verse 2]

He sent his servant to the town

The place where she'd been dwellin'

Sayin', "Master dear has sent ye here

If your name be Barbriallen"

[Verse 3]

And slowly, slowly she got up

And slowly she went to him

And all she said when she got there

"Young man, I think you're dyin'"

[Verse 4]

"Oh, don't you remember the other day

When we were in the tavern?

You drank your health to the ladies there

And you slighted Barbriallen"

[Verse 5]

He turned his face unto the wall

He turned his back upon her

"Adieu, adieu to all my friends

Be kind to Barbriallen"

[Verse 6]

She looked to the east, she looked to the west

She saw his corpse a-comin'

"Oh, put him down for me," she cried

"That I may gaze upon him"

[Verse 7]

The more she looked, the more she grieved

She bursted out in cryin'

"Oh, pick me up and carry me home

For I feel like I am dyin'"

[Verse 8]

They buried sweet Willy in the old church yard

And Barbara in the new one

From Willy's grave there grew a rose

From Barbara's a green briar

[Verse 9]

They grew and they grew on the old church wall

And could not grow no higher

And there they tied in a true love's knot

The rose bush and the briar