The Bad Girl's Lament

As I walked down to St. James Hospital
St. James Hospital early one day
I spied my only fairest daughter
Wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay

So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong

Once in the street, I used to look handsome
Once in the street, I used to dress gay
First to the ale house, then to the dance hall
Then to the poor house, now to my grave

So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong

Send for the preacher to pray o'er my body
Send for the doctor to heal up my wounds
Send for the young man I first fell in love with
That I might see him before I pass on

So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong

Let six pretty maidens with a bunch of red roses
Six pretty maidens to sing me a song
Six pretty maidens with a bunch of red roses
To lay on my coffin as they carry me along

So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong