Lyke-Wake Dirge
Pentangle
Transcribed by Doug Johnson
on October 25, 2002 from the CD
Early Classics

Ok, this one took some interpretation.  I may not have gotten it all.  Please tell 
me if you know better! :)

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       What you hear :-O                               What it might mean :-)

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,                 This night, this night, 
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte;               Fire and flame and candle light*
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul

   
When from hence away art past,                  When you are past here
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
To Whinny-Muir thou com'st at last;             To Whinny Moor you'll come at last
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul
     

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,            If ever you gave socks or shoes
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
Sit thee down and put them on;                  Sit yourself down and put them on
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul
     

If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane       But if socks and shoes you gave no one
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;   The whinnies will prick you to the bone
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul
      
      
From Whinny-muir when thou mayst pass,          When (if) you have passed Whinney Moor
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last;           To the Bridge of Dread you'll come at last
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul


From Brig o' Dread whenst thou mayst pass,      When (if) you have passed the Bridge of Dread
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last;          To the flames of Purgatory you'll come at last
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,              If you ever gave food or drink
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
The fire sall never make thee shrink;           The fire will never affect you
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul
      
If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane,        If you never gave food or drink
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;       The fire will burn you to the bone
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul
     

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,                 This night, this night
   -- Every nighte and alle,                       -- Every and all nights
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,               Fire and flame and candle light*
   And Christe receive thy saule.                  And Christ receive your soul
      
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* but I like: /Fire and sleet and candle heat/

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With much help from several internet sites: http://www.amsta.leeds.ac.uk/~pmt6jrp/personal/lyke.html http://members.aol.com/WalkerToys/Childhood_Memories/lw-dirge.htm http://www.daypoems.net/poems/373.html http://www.nigel2000.co.uk/dirgelyrics.htm