Early Christians believed the week before Easter was a good time to be baptized, calling it "White Week" because of the clothing customarily worn between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The song is also known as "The False Bride" who was, in keeping with the season, "dressed all in white." We took this version in the 1970s from the singing of Robin and Barry Dransfield.
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The week before Easter, the morn bright and clear
The sun it shone brightly and keen blowed the air
I went to the forest to gather fine flowers
But the forest would give me no roses.
The roses are red, love, and the leaves they are green
The bushes and the briars are a pleasure to be seen
And the small birds are singing and ranging their notes
All among the wild beasts in the forest.
Now the first time I saw my love, she was dressed all in white
In robes of white linen, fair dazzled my sight
And I thought to myself, well, I might have been that man
But she's going to be wed to another.
And the next time I saw my love, she did in the church stand
With a ring on her finger, and a glove in her hand
And I thought to myself, well, I might have been that man
But she's gone and she's wed to another.
And the parson that married them, aloud he did cry,
All you that forbid it, I'd have you stand nigh
And I thought to myself, I've a good reason why
But I had not the heart to forbid it
And the last time I saw my love, she was sat down to dine
Well, I sat down beside her and I poured out the wine
And I drank to the lassie that should have been mine
But she's gone and she's wed to another.
The men in yon forest, they're asking me
"How many wild strawberries grow in the salt sea?"
And I ask it them back with a tear in my eye
"How many dark ships in the forest?"
Go and dig me a grave, dig it long, wide and deep
Aye, and cover it over with flowers so sweet
So I can lie down there and take a long sleep
And that's the best way to forget her.
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