DUST TO DUST (The Grave Digger's Song)
(John Kirkpatrick)
As recorded by John Kirkpatrick on "Mazurka Berserker" (2001)

1. Digging graves is my delight,
A-digging graves for you to lie in.
Digging graves from morn 'til night,
I earns me living from the dying.
Diggin' graves the whole day long,
And as I dig I sing this song
To anybody that comes along:
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And thus I sing my song.

2. Rich and poor all come the same.
I'll bury you all; there's none has favour.
Don't spend your time in seeking gain.
No gold from death will ever save yer.
Mighty men with wealth and riches,
Beggars too in rags and stitches,
All end up in the wooden britches.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so my sing goes on.

3. Some we bury with foul diseases.
Some will die still young and pretty.
Death will take just who it pleases,
For in death there is no pity.
Men, good men, with sightless eyes,
Babes in arms and maids likewise,
Fit or foolish, weak or wise,
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And thus my song goes on.

4. You might be dancing in the street.
You might be gay; you might be grieving.
You might be singing a song so sweet,
But you'll not cheat death; there's no deceiving.
In the street or in the hall,
Whether you skip or whether you crawl,
Death could come anytime at all.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so I sing my song.

5. Death come early, death come late,
It takes us all; there is no reason.
For every purpose under heaven,
To each a time, to each a season;
A time to love and a time to cry,
A time to laugh and a time to sigh,
A time to be born a time to die.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And thus I end my song.


Top little number!! Bits of this song have been quoted in a number of other threads, so I figured we needed the whole thing.

Cheers! R-J

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John Kirkpatrick recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3rj1xV30Zs