BARBARA ELLEN SONG LYRICS                  

 

1.

In Scotland I was born and bred 

In Scotland I was dwelling; 

When a young man on his deathbed lay 

For the sake of Barb'ra Ellen. 

2.

He sent his servant to her house 

To the place where she was dewlling, 

Saying, "You must come to my master's house 

If your name is Barb'ra Ellen." 

3.

So slowly she put on her clothes 

So slowly she came to him, 

And when she came to his bedside 

She said, "Young man, you're dying." 

4. 

"A dying man! O don't say so. 

For one kiss from you will cure me." 

"One kiss from me you never shall have 

While your poor heart is breaking." 

5.

"If you'll look up at my bed-head 

You will see my watch a-hanging; 

Here's my gold ring and my gold chain 

I give to Barb'ra Ellen." 

6. 

"If you look down at my bed's-foot 

You will see a bowl a-standing 

In it is the blood I've shed 

For the sake of Barb'ra Ellen." 

7. 

As she was walking down the lane 

She heard some birds a-singing, 

And as they sang, they seemed to say: 

"Hard-hearted Barb'ra Ellen." 

8.

As she was walking down the lane 

She heard some bells a-tolling, 

And as they tolled they seemed to say: 

"Hard-hearted Barb'ra Ellen." 

9.

As she was walking up the groves 

And met his corpse a-coming, 

"Stay, stay," said she,"and stop awhile 

That I may gaze all on you." 

10. 

The more she gazed, the more she smiled 

Till she burst out a-laughing; 

And her parents cried out:"Fie, for shame, 

Hard-hearted Barb'ra Ellen." 

11.

"Come mother, come make up my bed 

Make it both long and narrow; 

My true love died for me yesterday 

I'll die for him tomorrow." 

12. 

And he was buried in Edmondstone 

And she was buried in Cold Harbour; 

And out of him sprang roses red 

And out of her sweet-brier. 

13. 

It grew and grew so very high 

Till it could grow no higher; 

And around the top growed a true lover's knot 

And around it twined sweet-brier. 



 

BARBARA ELLEN SONG LYRIC