They said, "Her daddy owns a grocery store
And she lives in Bristol town"

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry
If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

I laid my last ten dollars down
Though I didn't need a thing
Just to touch sweet Carrie Brown
When she handed me my change

I hung around till closin' time
I scarce believed my eyes
My darlin' walkin' arm in arm
With a boy named Billy Wise

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry
If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

I walked around in Bristol town
A bitter broken man
A heart that pined for Carrie Brown
And a pistol in my hand

We met again on State Street
Poor Billy Wise and me
I shot him in Virginia
And he died in Tennessee

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry
If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

Now I'm down in the Bristol jail
And all I do is cry
?Cause the jury found me guilty
And the judge says I must die

I'm just a poor young mountain boy
Ain't never been to town
And I've come to ruination
For the love of Carrie Brown

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry
If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die
Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die