Mythology & Folklore

The Gay Lady That Went to Church

by Anonymous (English and Scottish Ballads) traditional; texts recorded c. 15th–18th century

From Popular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern (1894)

Mythology & Folklore

There was a lady all skin and bone;
Sure such a lady was never known:
It happen'd upon a certain day,
This lady went to church to pray.

When she came to the church stile,
There she did rest a little while;
When she came to the church yard,
There the bells so loud she heard.

When she came to the church door,
She stopt to rest a little more;
When she came the church within,
The parson pray'd gainst pride and sin.

On looking up, on looking down,
She saw a dead man on the ground;
And from his nose unto his chin,
The worms crawl'd out, the worms crawl'd in.

Then she unto the parson said,
"Shall I be so when I am dead?"
"O yes! O yes," the parson said,
"You will be so when you are dead."

Here the lady screams.

MLA

Anonymous (English and Scottish Ballads). “The Gay Lady That Went to Church.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-scottish-ballads/233/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English and Scottish Ballads). “The Gay Lady That Went to Church.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-scottish-ballads/233/.

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