I WILL NOT GO INTO MY HOUSE
OR FALL UPON MY BED
I WILL NOT GIVE ME UNTO DRINK
OR EAT OF ANY BREAD

UNTIL I FIND MY MERCY IN
A LAND OF RIVERS RED
A LAND WITH SEASIDE FOAMED
BY FAITH OF THOSE WHO FOR HIM BLED

MY NAME IS BUT A SHAME TO BEAR
SO OF IT I HAVE SHED
I'M HEADED EAST TO BETHLEHEM WITH NONE
BUT HORSE AND THREAD

MANY A TIME I HAVE EXPLAINED
A LAND OF RIVERS RED
A LAND WITH SEASIDE FOAMED
BY FAITH OF THOSE WHO FOR LOVE BLED

I HAVE NO NEED FOR COMPANY
SO OF IT I HAVE FLED
I LEFT MY HORSE IN LEBANON
INTO A POOR GIRLS HANDS

SOMETIMES I THINK I SEE HER THERE
WITH HAIR LIKE RIVERS RED
AND LITTLE MIND UNTROUBLED
BY THE THOUGHTS OF THOSE SHE'LL WED

UNTO THE FEET OF BETHLEHEM
MY PETER ONCE HAD SAID
WILL ANGELS FALL AS AUTUMN LEAVES
AND WITHER IN THEIR STEAD

AND ONLY ONE SANG SOLOMON
WHOSE LIPS LIKE CATTLE BLED
AND ONLY ONE MAY RISE AGAIN
TO MAKE THY BRIDAL BED

MY NAME MY TRADE MY FAMILY
THEY ALL HAVE COME TO END
THE ONE I LOVE NO MORE
HAS GONE AWAY FROM BETHLEHEM

I WILL NOT GO INTO MY HOUSE
OR FALL UPON MY BED
I WILL NOT GIVE ME UNTO REST
OR LAYETH DOWN MY HEAD

UNTIL I HAVE HIM IN MY HANDS
AND WE AS ONE HAVE WEPT
UNTIL I HEAR HIM SING FOR ME
AND FOR ME HE DOES LET

HIS BODY FALL UPON MY BREAST
WITH TEARS HOLY AND RED
AS GIRLS WHO RUN LIKE RIVERS
DOWN IN DARLING BETHLEHEM