Barbry Ellen - June Tabor

In Scarlet Town where I was born

There was a fair maid dwelling

Made every youth cry well-a-day

And her name was Barbry Ellen

All in the merry month of May

When the green buds they were swelling

Young William Green on his death bed lay

For the love of Barbry Ellen

He sent his servant to the town

To her own father’s dwelling

Saying «master's sick and he bids you to come

If your name be Barbry Ellen»

Then slowly, slowly she got up

So slowly she came nigh him

And all she said when she got there

«Young man I believe you’re dying»

«O yes I’m sick and I’m very sick

And I never will be any better

Until I gain the love of one

The love of Barbry Ellen»

«O yes you’re sick and you’re very sick

And you never will be any better

For you never will gain the love of one

The love of Barbry Ellen

O don’t you remember in yonders town

In yonders town a-drinking

You gave the health to the ladies all around

And slighted Barbry Ellen"

«O yes, I remember in yonders town

In yonders town a-drinking

I give the health to the ladies all around

But my heart to Barbry Ellen»

He’s turned his pale face to the wall

And death was with him dwelling

«Farewell, farewell my good neighbours all

Be kind to Barbry Ellen»

As she was a-walking through the fields

She heard the death bell knelling

And every stroke that death bell gave

Cried woe to Barbry Ellen

As she was a-walking through the woods

She saw his pale corpse a-coming

«Set down set down that corpse of clay

That I might look upon him»

The more she looked, the more she grieved

Until she burst out crying

«O take him away o take him away

For I myself am dying

O mother, mother, make my bed

And make it both long and narrow

Sweet William has died for love of me

And I shall die of sorrow

O father, father, go dig my grave

And dig it both long and narrow

Sweet William has died for me today

And I’ll die for him tomorrow"

She was buried in the old churchyard

Sweet William was buried a-nigh her

And out of his grave grew a red red rose

Out of Barbry’s grew a green briar

And they grew and grew up the old church

Tower till they couldn’t grow any higher

And there they tied in a true lover’s knot

Red rose around green briar