Barbary Ellen

Play recording: Barbary Ellen

‘Twas early in the month of May, when the small birds they were singing
A young man from the north country fell in love with Barbary Ellen.

He sent his servant out one day to the place where she was dwelling,
‘My master wants a word with you, my bonnie Barbary Ellen.’

‘One word from me he’ll e’er shall have, nor any young man living
No better, no better, he’ll e’er shall have, for I know his heart is breaking.’

‘Oh, rise up, rise up,’ her mother cried, ‘and go and see this young man.’
‘Oh mother, oh mother, don’t make me go, for I do love no one.’

But slowly, slowly, she got up, and slowly she put on her
And slowly, slowly to the sick man’s bed: ‘Young man, I hear you’re dying.’

‘I’m dying in this very bed, the death lies in my bosom
One kiss from you would restore my health, my bonnie Barbary Ellen.’

‘No kiss from me you’ll e’er shall have, nor any young man living
No better, no better, you’ll e’er shall have; young man, I know you’re dying.

‘Do you remember last Saturday night, you were in the alehouse drinking
You drank the health of all the girls, and you slighted Barbary Ellen.’

‘Oh, I remember last Saturday night, I was in the alehouse drinking
I drank the health of all around, but my love was for Barbary Ellen.’

He turned his pale face to the wall, his friends all gathered round him
‘Adieu, adieu,’ he bade them all, ‘but be kind to Barbary Ellen.’

As she made her wayward home, she heard the small birds singing
And with every note they seemed to say, ‘Cruel-hearted Barbary Ellen.’

‘Oh Father, oh Father, dig my grave, make it long and narrow;
Young Willie died for me tonight, and I’ll die for him tomorrow.’

He was buried inn the old churchyard, Barbara was buried beside him;
From William’s grave grew a red, red rose, from Barbara’s a green briar.

They grew to the top of the old church wall till they could grow no higher;
They knotted and entwined in a lover’s knot, the rose around the briar.