Anonymous British

Lyke Wake Dirge

This ae night, this ae night Every night and alle, Fire and fleet and candle lighte, And Christ receive thy saule When thou from hence away art past, Every night and alle, To Whinny-Muir thou comest at laste, And Christ receive thy saule. If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon, Every night and alle, Sit thee down and put them on, And Christ receive thy soule. If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane Every night and alle, The whinnies shall prick thee to the bare bane, And Christ receive thy saule. From Whinny-Muir when thou may'st passe, Every night and alle, To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last, And Christ receive thy saule. If ever thou gavest silver or gold, Every night and alle, At Brig o' Dread thou'lt find foothold And Christ receive thy saule. If silver or gold thou ne'er gav'st nane, Every night and alle, Down thou tumblest to Hell flame, And Christ receive they saule. From Brig o' Dread when thou may'st passe, Every night and alle, To Purgatory Fire thou com'st at last, And Christ receive they saule. If ever thou gavest meat or drink, Every night and alle, The fire shall never make thee shrink, And Christ receive thy saule. If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane Every night and alle, The fire will burn thee to the bare bane, And Christ receive thy saule. This ae night, this ae nighte Every night and alle, Fire and fleet and candle-lighte, And Christ receive thy saule. Fleet: this may be an error for 'sleet', but it seems more likely to be an old word meaning 'house room'. whinny - gorse muir - moor brig - bridge