Barbriallen

'Twas in the merry month of May

When green buds were a-swellin'

Sweet William on his deathbed lay

For the love of Barbriallen



He sent his servant to the town

The place where she did dwell in

Saying "Master dear has sent me here

If your name be Barbriallen"



Then 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'"



"Oh, don't you remember the other day

When we were in the tavern

You drank your health to the ladies there

And you smited Barbriallen"



He turned his face unto the wall

He turned his back upon her

"Adieu, adieu to all my friends;

Be kind to Barbriallen"



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"



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'"



They buried sweet Willie in the old churchyard

And Barbra in the new one

From Willie's grave, there grew a rose

From Barbra's, a green briar



They grew and they grew on the old church wall

And could not grow no higher

And there they tied in a true lover's knot

The rose bush and the briar