[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
And play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
And play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong

[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
And play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong

[Verse 4]
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
[Chorus]
So beat your drums and play the fife lowly
And play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the churchyard and lay the sod over me
I am a young maid and I know I've done wrong