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
- This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
—Every nighte and alle,
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,
And Christ receive thy saule.
- When thou from hence away art past,
—Every nighte and alle,
To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last:
And Christ receive thy saule.
- If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,
—Every nighte and alle,
Sit thee down and put them on:
And Christ receive thy saule.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- If ever thou gavest meat or drink,
—Every nighte and alle,
The fire sall never make thee shrink;
And Christ receive thy saule.
- 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.
- 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)