photo by sarah hawker

ONE MORNING IN MAY

Traditional, from Texas Gladden

When I was a young girl, I used to seek pleasure

When I was a young girl, I used to drink ale

Out of the alehouse and into a jailhouse

Right out of the barroom and into my grave

Come papa, come mama and sit you down by me

Come sit you down me and pity my case

My poor head is aching, my sad heart is breaking

My body's salivated and I'm bound to die

Oh send for the preacher to come and pray for me

And send for the doctor to heal all my wounds

My poor head is aching, my sad heart is breaking

My body's salivated and hell is my doom

I want three young ladies to bear up coffin

I want four young ladies to carry me on

And each of them carry a bunch of wild roses

To lay on  my coffin as I pass along

One morning, one morning, one morning in May

I saw this young lady all wrapped in white linen

All wrapped in white linen and cold as the clay