I was a-walking one morning at ease,
A-viewing the leaves as they hung from the trees,
They were all in full motion or appearing to be,
And those that were wither'd, they fell from the tree.


(Chorus)
Then what is the life of a man, any more than the leaves,
A man has his seasons, so why should he grieve;
Even though in this wide world he appears bright and gay,
Like the leaves we shall wither and soon fade away.

Did you not see the leaves but a short time ago?
They were all in full motion appearing to grow,
When the frost came upon them and wither'd them all
Then the rain came upon them and down they did fall.

If you go down to yonder churchyard, many names there you'll see,
Who have fallen from this world like the leaves from trees;
What with age and affliction upon us all,
Like the leaves we will wither and down we shall fall.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source:

Notes:


Roud: 848 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: