DEATH AND THE LADY



As I walked out one morning in May

The birds did sing and the lambs did play

The birds did sing and the lambs did play

I met an old man, I met an old man

I met an old man by the way



His head was bald, his beard was grey

His coat was of a myrtle shade

I asked him what strange countryman

Or what strange place, or what strange place

Or what strange place he did belong



"My name is Death, cannot you see?

Lords, dukes, and ladies bow down to me

And you are one of those branches three

And you fair maid, and you fair maid,

And you fair maid must come with me"

"I'll give you gold and jewels rare

I'll give you costly robes to wear

I'll give you all my wealth in store

If you'll let me live, if you'll let me live

If you'll let me live a few years more"



"Fair lady, lay your robes aside

No longer glory in your pride

And now, sweet maid, make no delay

Your time is come, your time is come

Your time is come and you must away"



And not long after this fair maid died

"Write on my tomb," the lady cried,

"Here lies a poor distressed maid

Whom Death now lately, whom Death now lately

Whom Death now lately hath betrayed"





@death

Printed in the Penguin book of English folksongs

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