by Elinor Wylie (1885 - 1928)
When I died in Berner's Street See original
Language: English
When I died in Berners Street I remember well That I had lights at head and feet And a passing bell. ... when I died in Houndsditch There came to lay me out A washerwoman and a witch; The rats ran about. When I died in Holburn In and old house and tall I know the tapestry was torn And hanging from the wall. When I died in Marylebone I was saying my prayers; There I died all alone Up four flights of stairs. ... when I died near Lincoln's Inn The small gold I had Surrounded me with kith and kin; I died stark mad. When I died in Bloomsbury In the bend of your arm, At the end I died merry And comforted and warm.
Composition:
- Set to music by Mary (Carlisle) Howe (1882 - 1964), "When I died in Berner's Street", published 1947 [ voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
- by Elinor Wylie (1885 - 1928), "A strange story", appears in Trivial Breath, New Republic, first published 1924
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Researcher for this page: Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-03-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 127