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The Old Churchyard

[ Roud 3386 ; Ballad Index R620 ; trad.]

Waterson:Carthy sang the beautiful hymn The Old Churchyard in 2002 on their fourth album, A Dark Light. This track was also included in 2003 on the Watersons anthology The Definitive Collection. Martin Carthy commented in the original album's sleeve notes:

When, in 1976, The Watersons were invited to the Bicentennial celebrations on the Mall in Washington DC, we met various of our idols including a remarkable old-fashioned singer from Arkansas called Almeda Riddle, who insisted that people called her “Granny” and who always knew an extra verse to just about any song you could sing her—unless the singer was Walter Pardon who, of course and as was his wont, knew yet another. She sang The Old Churchyard and showed endless delight when we announced that we wanted to sing it.

Lyrics

Waterson:Carthy sing The Old Churchyard

Come, come with me out to the old churchyard,
I so well know those paths 'neath the soft green sward.
Friends slumber in there that we want to regard;
We will trace out their names in the old churchyard.

Mourn not for them, their trials are o'er,
And why weep for those who will weep no more?
For sweet is their sleep, though cold and hard
Their pillows may be in the old churchyard.

I know that it's vain when our friends depart
To breathe kind words to a broken heart;
And I know that the joy of life is marred
When we follow lost friends to the old churchyard.

But were I at rest 'neath yonder tree,
Oh, why would you weep, my friends, for me?
I'm so weary, so wayworn, why would you retard
The peace I seek in the old churchyard?

Why weep for me, for I'm anxious to go
To that haven of rest where no tears ever flow;
And I fear not to enter that dark lonely tomb
Where our saviour has lain and conquered the gloom.

𝄆 I rest in the hope that one bright day
Sunshine will burst to these prisons of clay,
And old Gabriel's trumpet and voice of the Lord
Will wake up the dead in the old churchyard. 𝄇

Links

See also the Mudcat Café thread Lyr Req: The Old Churchyard (Watersons).