Le Roi Renaud is a popular French traditional ballad recorded by lots of folks, from Edith Piaf to Yves Montand to Pierre Bensusan and even June Tabor. It is the spooky story of young King Renaud who goes off to war and returns, mortally wounded. He asks his mother to make up his bed, but not to let his young wife know that he is dead, as she has just given birth to their first-born son.

When the young mother wakes, she asks her mother-in-law questions about the weeping maids, the tolling bells, the procession of priests, etc. The dowager queen makes up excuses for all the signs of mourning, until she can no longer hide the truth from her son's widow, who dies of sorrow.

Lyrics and discussion of the song can be found here and here.