Red Rose/Green Briar
In Scarlet Town, where I was born,
there was a fair maid dwelling, who
made every youth cry, "Well-a-day!"
Her name was Barbara Ellen.
It was in the merry month of May,
when the green buds they were swelling,
young William on his death bed lay
for the love of Barbara Ellen.
He sent his best friend to the town.
He sent him to her dwelling...saying,
"William is sick, and he begs for you,
if your name is Barbara Ellen."
So slowly, slowly, she got up,
and to his bedside going. But
all she said when she got there
was, "Young man it seems you're dying."
"Oh yes, I'm sick. I feel so low,
and death is on me dwelling.
No better, no better I ever will be,
if I can't have Barbara Ellen!"
"Well don't you remember in yonder's town,
in yonder's town a drinking? You
raised your glass to the ladies all around,
and you slighted Barbara Ellen."
"Yes, I remember in yonder's town,
in yonder's town a drinking. I gave
my health to the ladies all around,
but my heart to Barbara Ellen."
Then he reached out his pale white hand,
intending just to touch her, but
she pulled away, and he heard her say,
"I'll die before you touch me."
He turned his face then, to the wall,
and burst out a crying. Saying,
"Adieu to thee, my good neighbors all.
Adieu to Barbara Ellen."
She had not more than reached the fields,
when she heard his death bell tolling,
and every stroke, it seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Ellen."
"Oh mother, oh mother, go make my bed,
and make it long and narrow.
Young William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."
They carried them down to the Old North Church.
They laid him down beside her. And
out of his bosom grew a red, red rose...
from Barbara's grew a briar.
They grew and grew, on the old church tower,
till they could not grow no higher. Then
they twined and mixed in a true lover's knot;
the red rose round the green briar.
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These lyrics are a combination of ones learned from my mother, Cebah Dowlen
Dutton, and Jean Ritchie of the "Singing Ritchies of Viper Kentucky." The last
two lines of stanza 8 are my invention. Barbara Ellen is mentioned by Pepys
in 1666, so its at least a bit older than that.