Barbry Ellen
June Tabor Lyrics

In Scarlet Town where I was born
The song is set in Scarlet Town, June Tabor's birthplace.

There was a fair maid dwelling
There was a beautiful young girl in the town.

Made every youth cry well-a-day
She was so attractive that every young man sighed.

And her name was Barbry Ellen
Her name was Barbry Ellen.

All in the merry month of May
The events described take place in May.

When the green buds they were swelling
When the trees and plants were beginning to bloom.

Young William Green on his death bed lay
A young man named William Green lay dying.

For the love of Barbry Ellen
He was dying because of his love for Barbry Ellen.

He sent his servant to the town
He sent someone to Barbry Ellen's father's house to fetch her.

To her own father's dwelling
Barbry Ellen's father lived in the town.

Saying "master's sick and he bids you to come
The message was that William was sick and wanted to see her.

If your name be Barbry Ellen"
The servant was told to ask for Barbry Ellen specifically.

Then slowly, slowly she got up
She got up slowly.

So slowly she came nigh him
She approached him slowly.

And all she said when she got there
When she arrived, all she said was...

"Young man I believe you're dying"
"Young man, you seem to be dying."

"O yes I'm sick and I'm very sick
"Yes, I am very sick and won't get better because..."

And I never will be any better
... I can only be cured if Barbry Ellen loves me.

Until I gain the love of one
William won't recover until Barbry Ellen loves him in return.

The love of Barbry Ellen"
He wants her love specifically.

"O yes you're sick and you're very sick
"Yes, you're very sick and getting worse because..."

And you never will be any better
...Barbry Ellen won't love him in return.

For you never will gain the love of one
His sickness will not be cured because Barbry Ellen won't love him.

O don't you remember in yonders town
Barbry Ellen calls to his memory from the past.

In yonders town a-drinking
He was drinking with other ladies in another town.

You gave the health to the ladies all around
He toasted the health of other ladies.

And slighted Barbry Ellen
But he ignored Barbry Ellen.

"O yes, I remember in yonders town
William accepts it all as true.

In yonders town a-drinking
It happened as she said.

I give the health to the ladies all around
He raised his glass to other ladies.

But my heart to Barbry Ellen"
But his heart belonged to Barbry Ellen.

He's turned his pale face to the wall
William turns away from Barbry Ellen.

And death was with him dwelling
He was about to die.

"Farewell, farewell my good neighbours all
William says goodbye to everyone in the room.

Be kind to Barbry Ellen"
He asks everyone to be kind to Barbry Ellen once he's gone.

As she was a-walking through the fields
Barbry Ellen was walking in a field.

She heard the death bell knelling
She heard the sound of the funeral bell.

And every stroke that death bell gave
With every chime of the bell...

Cried woe to Barbry Ellen
...she is reminded that William is gone.

As she was a-walking through the woods
Barbry Ellen is now walking through a forest.

She saw his pale corpse a-coming
She sees William's body being carried towards her.

"Set down set down that corpse of clay
"Put down the lifeless body down for a moment..."

That I might look upon him"
"...so I can see him."

The more she looked, the more she grieved
As she looked at him, she became even more sad.

Until she burst out crying
She started crying uncontrollably.

"O take him away o take him away
"Take him away, take him away..."

For I myself am dying
...because she's also dying.

O mother, mother, make my bed
She calls out to her mother, asking her to make her bed.

And make it both long and narrow
She wants her bed to be long and narrow.

Sweet William has died for love of me
She reminds her mother that William died for her.

And I shall die of sorrow
She says she will die of sadness.

O father, father, go dig my grave
She asks her father to dig her grave.

And dig it both long and narrow
She wants her grave to be dug long and narrow as William's.

Sweet William has died for me today
Again she acknowledges that William died for her.

And I'll die for him tomorrow"
And now she will die for William.

She was buried in the old churchyard
Barbry Ellen was buried in the old churchyard.

Sweet William was buried a-nigh her
William was buried next to her.

And out of his grave grew a red red rose
A red rose grew out of William's grave.

Out of Barbry's grew a green briar
A green briar originated from Barbry Ellen's grave.

And they grew and grew up the old church
The rose and the briar grew up the old church.

Tower till they couldn't grow any higher
They grew as high as they could.

And there they tied in a true lover's knot
The rose and the briar intertwined.

Red rose around green briar
The intertwined plants form a true lovers' knot.