Barbara Ellen

Intro 
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'Twas early, early in the spring 
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When the rose buds they were swellin' 
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Young William on hisdeathbed lay 
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All forthe love of Bairbre Ellen 
 

 
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He senta servant to the town 
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To the town where she was dwellin' 
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Saying, "my master's sick, and he sends for you 
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If you be Bairbre Ellen" 
 

 
   G            D       G 
So slow, slowly she got up 
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And slowly she went to him 
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Though all she said when she got there 
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"Young man, I fear you're dying" 
 

 
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"Oh yes, I'm sick, I'm dreadful sick 
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I hear the dead winds howling 
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And no better, no better will I ever be 
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If I can't have Bairbre Ellen" 
 

 
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"Well I remember that distant night 
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Down in the logwood tavern 
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You danced and sang with a ladies fair, 
    D                G 
You slighted Bairbre Ellen" 
 

 
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As she was on her long way home 
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She saw the funeral coming 
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She said, "lay me down his body there 
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That I may look upon him" 
 

 
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The more she looked, the more she saw 
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Till she fell down in sorrow 
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"Young William died for me today 
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I'll die for him tomorrow" 
 

 
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They lay her in the far graveyard 
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And William's grave beside her 
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And o'er his grave grew red, red rose 
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O'er Barbara's grave a briar 
 

 
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They grew and grew up the churchyard wall 
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Till they could grow no higher 
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And they wound and wound in a true lover's knot 
    D                G 
The red rose and the briar