It was in the merry month of May

When green bugs were a-swelling

Sweet William on his death bed lay

For the love of Barbriallen

He sent his servant to the town

The place where she'd been dwelling

Say master dear has sent me here

If your name be Barbriallen

And slowly, slowly she got up

And slowly she went to him

And all she said when she got there

Young man I think you are dying

Oh, don't you remember the other day

When we where in a tavern

You drank your health to the ladies there

And you slided 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-coming

Oh, put him down for me she cried

That I may gaze upon him

The more she looked, the more she grieved

She busted it out in crying

Oh, pick me up and carry me home

For I feel like I am dying

They buried sweet Willy in the old church yard

And Barbara in the new one

From Willy's grave there grew a rose

From Barbara'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 love's knot

The rose bush and the briar