Britten: Serenade for tenor, horn & strings, Op. 31 - Dirge - Peter Pears, Dennis Brain, New Symphony Orchestra

This ae nighte, this ae nighte

Every nighte and alle

Fire and fleet and candle‑lighte

And Christe receive thy saule

When thou from hence away art past

Every nighte and alle

To Whinny‑muir thou com’st at last;

And Christe receive thy saule

If ever thou gav’st hoes’n and shoon

Every nighte and alle

Sit thee down and put them on;

And Christe receive thy saule

If hoes;n and shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane

Every nighte and alle

The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;

And Christe receive thy saule

From Whinny‑muir when thou may’st pass

Every nighte and alle

To Brig o' Dread thou com’st at last;

And Christe receive thy saule

From Brig o' Dread when thou may’st pass

Every nighte and alle

To Purgatory fire thou com’st at last;

And Christe receive thy saule

If ever thou gavest meat or drink

Every nighte and alle

The fire sall never make thee shrink;

And Christe receive thy saule

If meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane

Every nighte and alle

The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;

And Christe receive thy saule

This ae nighte, this ae nighte

Every nighte and alle

Fire and fleet and candle‑lighte

And Christe receive thy saule