The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #159389   Message #989379
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-Jul-03 - 07:08 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Lyke Wake Dirge
Subject: ADD Version: Lyke-Wake Dirge
This is very similar to some of the versions posted above, but I think it's still worth posting. quiller-Couch doesn't list sources.
-Joe Offer-

A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE

  1. This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  2. When thou from hence away art past,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last:
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  3. If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    Sit thee down and put them on:
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  4. If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane
    —Every nighte and alle,
    The whinnes sail prick thee to the bare bane;
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  5. From whinny-muir when thou may'st pass,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last;
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  6. From Brig o' Dread when thou may'st pass,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last;
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  7. If ever thou gavest meat or drink,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    The fire sall never make thee shrink;
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  8. If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;
    And Christ receive thy saule.

  9. This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
    —Every nighte and alle,
    Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
    And Christ receive thy saule.

Source: The Oxford Book of Ballads (Arthur Quiller-Couch, 1920)