Lyke-Wake Dirge
Pentangle * Track #4 On Basket of Light
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Lyke-Wake Dirge by Pentangle
Performed by
PentangleProduced by
Shel TalmyWrited by
TraditionalAbout
This is a song based on a very old poem tracing the progress of a soul from death to Purgatory. “Lyke” is cognate with “lich” – a corpse. A “lyke-wake” is the funeral tradition of sitting with the body before it’s buried.
There’s more on the song’s long history at Wikipedia.
The important thing is...
Lyke-Wake Dirge Lyrics
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Every nighte and alle
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte
And Christe receive thy saule
When thou from hence away art past
Every nighte and alle
To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last
And Christe receive thy saule
If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon
Every nighte and alle
Sit thee down and put them on
And Christe receive thy saule
If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane
Every nighte and alle
The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane
And Christe receive thy saule
From Whinny-muir when thou may'st pass
Every nighte and alle
To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last
And Christe 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 Christe receive thy saule
If ever thou gavest meat or drink
Every nighte and alle
The fire sall never make thee shrink
And Christe 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 Christe receive thy saule
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Every nighte and alle
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte
And Christe receive thy saule
Lyke-Wake Dirge Q&A
Who wrote Lyke-Wake Dirge's ?
Lyke-Wake Dirge was written by Traditional.
Who produced Lyke-Wake Dirge's ?
Lyke-Wake Dirge was produced by Shel Talmy.