| As I walked out one morn 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 by the way
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| His head was bald, his beard was grey
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| His coat was of a myrtle shade
|
| I asked him what strange countryman
|
| Or what strange
|
| Or what strange place he did belong
|
| «My name is Death, cannot you see?
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| Lords, Dukes and Ladies bow down to me
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| And you are one of those branches three
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| And you fair maid
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| And you fair maid must come with me»
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| «I'll give you gold and jewels rare
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| I’ll give you costly robes to wear
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| I’ll give you all my wealth in store
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| If you’ll let me live
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| If you’ll let me live a few years more»
|
| «Fair lady, lay your robes aside
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| No longer glory in your pride
|
| And now, sweet maid, make no delay
|
| Your time is come
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| 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
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| Whom Death now lately
|
| Whom Death now lately hath betrayed» |