Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings op. 31 (1943) - 4. Dirge (Anon. 15th Century) - Peter Pears/Benjamin Britten/The Boyd Neel String Orchestra/Dennis Brain

Lyrics by：Anonymous

Composed by：Benjamin Britten

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 Whinnymuir thou com'st at last

And Christe receive thy saule

If ever thou gav'st hos'n and shoon

Every nighte and alle

Sit thee down and put them on

And Christe receive thy saule

If hos'n 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 Whinnymuir 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 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