Lyrics

There was a night, and a lady bright
And three little babes had she
She sent them away, to a far country
To learn their grammarie

They hadn't been gone but a very short time
About three months and a day
When the lord flew o'er this wide wicked world
And taken those babes away

It was on a cold, cold Christmas night
When everything was still
She saw her three little babes come running
Come running down the hill

She set them a table of bread and wine
So that they might drink and eat
She spread them a bed of winding sheet
That they might sleep so sweet

Take it off, take it off
Cried the eldest one
Take it off, take it off, cried she
For I shan't stay here, in this wide wicked world
When there's a better one for me

Cold clods, cold clods, at my head and feet
Cold clods, down at my feet
The tears my dear mother shed for me
Will wet my winding sheets