The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2) / With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.

by Alice Bertha Gomme

Red is for soldiers, soldiers, soldiers,
Red is for soldiers, and that won’t do.

Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.

What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be blue?

Blue is for sailors, sailors, sailors,
Blue is for sailors, and that won’t do.

Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.

What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be black?

Black is for mourners, mourners, mourners,
Black is for mourners, and that won’t do.

Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.

What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be white?

White’s what the dead wear, dead wear, dead wear,
White’s what the dead wear, and that will just do.