In scarlet Town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made many a youth cry well a day
Her name was Barbara Ellen

Was in the merry month of May
When green buds were a swellin',
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbara Ellen.

He sent his servant unto her
To the place where she was dwelling
Said my master's sick, bids me call for you
If your name be Barbara Ellen

Well, slowly, slowly got she up
And slowly went she nigh him
But all she said as she passed his bed
"Young man I think you're dyin"

"O yes, I'm sick and very low,
And death is on me dwellin',
No better shall I ever be
If I don't get Barbara Ellen."

Then lightly tripped she down the stairs
She heard those church bells tollin'
And each bell seemed to say as it tolled
Hard hearted Barbara Ellen

He turned his pale face to the wall,
And death was on him dwellin'.
"Adieu, Adieu, my kind friends all,
Be kind to Barbara Ellen."

She looked east, she looked west,
She saw his corpse a-comin'.
"Lay down, lay down the corpse," she said,
"And let me gaze upon him."

"O mother, mother make my bed,
O make it long and narrow,
Sweet William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."

Sweet William died on a Saturday night,
And Barbara died on Sunday,
Her mother died for the love of both,
And was buried Easter Monday.

They buried Barbara in the old church yard
They buried Sweet William beside her
Out of his grave grew a red, red rose
And out of hers a briar

They grew and grew up the old church wall
Till they could grow no higher
And at the top twined a lover's knot
The red rose and the briar