Lyke Wake Dirge

Currently used on the BBC One drama "The Living & The Dead", this song, known as "Lyke Wake Dirge" is a traditional English song that tells of the soul's travel from Earth to purgatory. Though the song is from the Christian era, much of the symbolism used is of heathen origin. Overall, the song is a warning to the living: Be kind and generous to the poor, or you will regret it when your time comes. The song exists in several different forms, some shorter than others. The word "Lyke" is an ancient British word for "corpse". It is related to "lych" and "leich", both of which refer to the dead. The word "Wake" originally meant "watch", as in a period of standing or attending, and its old meaning is still currently in use today -- a period of watching over the corpse. The idea of a wake came from the ancient superstition that the soul sometimes takes a little time to disentangle from the body after death. A wake was thus a time when the soul was still in the vicinity of the body and would benefit from the prayers of the mourners. Presumably the song was sung at wakes to remind the departing soul -- and those attending the corpse -- of what it was in for. The full original lyrics are as follows: This ae nighte, this ae nighte, Every nighte and alle, Fire and sleet 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 whence thou may'st pass, Every nighte and alle, To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last; And Christe receive thy saule. If ever thou gav'st silver and gold, Every nighte and alle, At t' Brig o' Dread thou'lt find foothold, And Christe receive thy saule. But if silver and gold thou never gav'st nane, Every nighte and alle, Down thou tumblest to Hell flame, And Christe receive thy saule. From Brig o' Dread whence thou may'st pass, Every nighte and alle, To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last; And Christe receive thy saule. If ever thou gav'st 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.