Burial Blessing

One, two, three, four

I must go now for the grey woods
Call me westwards, call me westwards
Be not afraid
Sing and pray, cry and sway
As I enter the shade, sing and pray, cry and sway
As I move away
Be not afraid

Bury me there in the old hearth glare
Bury me deep in the dunes by the sea
Bury me under the open air
Bury me in the roots of a tree
Oh bury me with ochre, courts, or ivy
Bury me without worry or sorrow or envy

I must go now for the grey woods
Call me westwards, call me westwards
Be not afraid
Sing and pray, cry and sway
As I enter the shade, sing and pray, cry and sway
As I move away
Be not afraid

Bury me whole in the totems of time
Bury me skin, flesh and bones
Bury me lane along temporal line
Bury me on my head, place white stones
Oh bury me with ochre, corks or ivy
Be my hand on the oar to row to eternity

I will still be with you in the river's flow
In the undertow, where the brambles grow
I will still be by you in the fox's eye
In the seabird's cry, in the city sky

I must go now for the grey woods
Call me westwards, call me westwards
Be not afraid
Sing and pray, cry and sway
As I enter the shade
Sing and pray, cry and sway
As I move away
Be not afraid