The Bridge of Death

- The dance is on the Bridge of Death 
And who will dance with me? 
- There’s never a man of living men 
Will dare to dance with thee. 

- Now I am gone within my bower 
Put ashes in my hair, 
- And sackcloth on her bonny breast, 
And on her shoulders bare. 

They danced across the bridge 
Above the black water 
And marriage-bell was tolled in hell 
For the souls of him and her. 

They danced across the bridge 
Above the black water 
The marriage-bell was tolled in hell 
For the souls of him and her. 

- There came a knock to my bower door, 
And blithe I let him in. 
It was my brother from the wars, 
The dearest of my kin. 

- Set gold within your hair, 
Set gold within your hair, 
And gold upon your girdle band, 
And on your breast so fair. 

Love of life… Love of life… 
Love of life on the bridge of death. 
Love of life… Love of life… 
Love of life on the bridge of death. 

- Nay, no gold for my head brother, 
No gold for my hair 
- It’s ashes and it’s dust of earth 
That you and I must wear. 
- We are bidden to dance tonight, 
We may not bide away. 
- Hah! This one good night, this one fair night, 
Before the red new day. 

They danced across the bridge 
Above the black water 
And marriage-bell was tolled in hell 
For the souls of him and her. 

They danced across the bridge 
Above the black water 
The marriage-bell was tolled in hell 
For the souls of him and her. 

- No gold work for my girdle band, 
No gold work on my feet. 
- But ashes of the fire, my love, 
But dust that the serpents eat. 

- For we are bidden to dance tonight, 
We may not bide away. 
This one good night, one fair night, 
Before the red new day. 

Love of life… Love of life… 
Love of life on the bridge of death. 
Love of life… Love of life… 
Love of life on the bridge of death. 
Love of life… Love of life… 
Love of life on the bridge of death. 
Love of life… Love of life… 
Love of life on the bridge of death.