When I Was a Young Girl - Nina Simone

When I was a young girl I used to seek pleasure

When I was a young girl I used to drink ale

Out of the ale house and into the jail house

Right out of the bar room and down to my grave

Come mama come papa sit you beside me

Come mama come papa and pity my case

My poor head is aching my heart it is breaking

My body’s salve-aided and I’m bound to die

Go send for the preacher to come and pray for me

Go send for the doctor to heal up my wounds

My poor head is aching my heart it is breaking

My body’s salve-aided and hell is my home

I want three young ladies to bear up my coffin

I want three young ladies to take me along

I want them to carry a bunch of wild roses

To put on my body as I pass along

One morning one morning in May

One morning one morning in May

I spy this young lady all clad in white linens

All clad in white linens and cold as a clay

When I was a young girl I used to seek pleasure

When I was a young girl I used to drink ale

Out of the ale house and into the jail house

Right out of the bar room down to my grave