- The dance is on the bridge of death
And who will dance with me?
- There's never a man of living men
Will dare to dance with thee.
- Now I am gone within my bower
Put ashes in my hair,
- And sackcloth on her bonny breast,
And on her shoulders bare.

They danced across the bridge, above the black water.
The marriage-bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her.
They danced across the bridge, above the black water.
The marriage-bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her.

- There came a knock to my bower door,
And blithe I let him in.
It was my brother from the wars,
The dearest of her kin.

- Set gold within your hair,
Set gold within your hair,
And gold upon your girdle band,
And on your breast so fair.

Lover of life, Lover of life,
Lover of life on the bridge of death.
Lover of life, Lover of life,
Lover of life on the bridge of death.

- Nay, no gold for my head brother,
Nay, no gold for my hair
- It's ashes and it's dust of Earth
That you and I must wear.
- We are bidden to dance tonight,
We may not bide away.
- Hah! This one good night, this one fair night,
Before the red new day.

They danced across the bridge, above the black water.
The marriage-bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her.
They danced across the bridge, above the black water.
The marriage-bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her.

- No gold work for my girdle band,
No gold work on my feet.
- But ashes of the fire, my love,
But dust that the serpents eat.
- We are bidden to dance tonight,
We may not bide away.
This one good night, one fair night,
Before the red new day.

Lover of life, Lover of life,
Lover of life on the bridge of death.
Lover of life, Lover of life,
Lover of life on the bridge of death.
Lover of life, Lover of life,
Lover of life on the bridge of death.
Lover of life, Lover of life,
Lover of life on the bridge of death.