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As I walked out of 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.

So beat your drums slowly and play your pipes lowly
And play the dead march as you bear me along;
Take me to the churchyard and throw the ground over me,
For I'm a young maiden and I know I've done wrong.

Once on the street I used to look handsome,
Once on the street I used to dress gay;
'Twas first to the ale house, then to the dance hall,
Then to the poor house, and now to my grave.

Oh come, dear mother, and sit beside me,
Oh sit beside me and pity my case;
For my head it is aching, my heart it is breaking
With sore lamentations, I know I've done wrong.

Oh send for the minister to pray o'er my body,
Oh send for the doctor to heal up my wounds;
Oh send for the young man that first came to court me,
That I may see him, before I am gone.