In bruton town there lived a noble man
He had two sons and a daughter fair
By night and day they were contriving
For to fill their sister's heart with careOne night one night of restless slumber
One brother rose up from his bed
He heard the servant court their sister
Oh he heard they had a mind to wedOh when he rose the very next morning
Went searching for the serving man
And when he found him this young man he murdered
Oh left him lying in the briars aroundOh she went to bed a-crying and lamenting
And thinking of her own true love
And as she slept she dreamt that she saw him
A-lying in the countryside all covered with gore and bloodOh brothers, brothers why do you whisper
And what's become of this serving man?
Oh we lost him where we were a-hunting gone
We lost him where he won't ever be foundOh she early rose the very next morning
And searched the countryside around
And there she saw her own dear jewel
A-lying in the briars where he'd been foundThree days and nights here did lie by him
She thought her heart it would break with woe
When a cruel hunger came upon her
And in despair to her home she did goOh sister, sister why do you whisper
And won't you tell us where you've been
Stand off, stand off you bloody butchers
My love and I you have both slain