Classic Poem

“Where were you yesterevening,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Where were you yesterevening?”

“I have been with my sweetheart;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
I have been with my sweetheart;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What supper did she give you,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What supper did she give you?”

“A little eel a-roasted;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
A little eel a-roasted;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“And did you eat the whole, then,
Dear son so fair and noble?
And did you eat the whole, then?”

“Only the half I 've eaten;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Only the half I 've eaten;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What did you with the leavings,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What did you with the leavings?”

“I gave them to my good hound;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
I gave them to my good hound;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“Where have you left your good hound,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Where have you left your good hound?”

“It fell dead in the roadway;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
It fell dead in the roadway;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“Oh, she has given you poison,
Dear son so fair and noble!
Oh, she has given you poison!”

“Now call to me the doctor;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Now call to me the doctor;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“Why do you want the doctor,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Why do you want the doctor?”

“That he may see what ails me;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
That he may see what ails me;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!

“Now call to me the curate;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Now call to me the curate;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“Why do you want the curate,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Why do you want the curate?”

“That I may make confession;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
That I may make confession;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!

“Now call to me a lawyer;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
Now call to me a lawyer;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“Why do you want a lawyer,
Dear son so fair and noble?
Why do you want a lawyer?”

“My will to draw and witness;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
My will to draw and witness;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What will you leave your mother,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your mother?”

“I leave to her my palace;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
I leave to her my palace;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What will you leave your brothers,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your brothers?”

“My carriage and my horses;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
My carriage and my horses;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What will you leave your sisters,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your sisters?”

“A dowry for their marriage;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
A dowry for their marriage;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What will you leave your servants,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your servants?”

“The road to go to mass on;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
The road to go to mass on;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What will you leave for your funeral,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave for your funeral?”

“A hundred and fifty masses;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
A hundred and fifty masses;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”

“What will you leave your sweetheart,
Dear son so fair and noble?
What will you leave your sweetheart?”

“The gallows-tree to hang her;
O Lady Mother, sick at heart am I!
The gallows-tree to hang her;
O woe is me! O woe is me! I die!”