[Verse 1]
'Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds were a-swellin'
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbriallen

[Verse 2]
He sent his servant to the town
The place where she'd been dwellin'
Sayin', "Master dear has sent ye here
If your name be Barbriallen"

[Verse 3]
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're dyin'"

[Verse 4]
"Oh, don't you remember the other day
When we were in the tavern?
You drank your health to the ladies there
And you slighted Barbriallen"

[Verse 5]
He turned his face unto the wall
He turned his back upon her
"Adieu, adieu to all my friends
Be kind to Barbriallen"
[Verse 6]
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"

[Verse 7]
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'"

[Verse 8]
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

[Verse 9]
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