3. The Whore's Lament

Trad., adapted & arranged by Robin Greenstein

Guitar, Banjo, Vocals - Robin
Bass - Barry Weisenfeld
Fiddle - Dan Collins
Percussion - Cheryl Prashkar

This song is related to”St. James’ Infirmary” and “The Unfortunate Rake”. I learned this from my former mentor Hedy West (“500 Miles”) whose banjo arrangement I am still in awe of to this day, and woefully attempt to recreate in this arrangement. A sad song indeed.

The Whore's Lament

Once in the street this fair maid was beautiful
Once in the street this fair maid was gay
First to the ale-house and then to the dance-house
Then came the whore-house and then to the grave

Chorus:
So bang the drums loudly and play the fifes merrily
Sing the dead march as you bear me along
Take me to the graveyard and throw the dirt over me
I'm a young girl and I know I've done wrong.

As I walked past St. James' Hospital
St. James' Hospital early one day
There I spied my own darling daughter
Wrapped in white linen and cold as the clay

"Mother dear Mother, come sit down beside me
Sit down beside me and pity my case
My poor heart is aching, my poor heart is breaking
I feel so forsaken, I surely must die."

Chorus:

"Get 3 gay gamblers to carry off my body
3 pretty maids to sing me a song
Each in their hand hold a bunch of green roses
So they can't smell me as they as they bear me along"

Once in the street this fair maid was beautiful
Once in the street this fair maid was gay
First to the ale-house and then to the dance-house
Then came the whore-house and then to the grave