There was a lady all skin and bone, Sure, such a lady was never known: It happened upon a certain day, This lady went to church to pray. When she came to the church stile, There she did rest a little while; When she came to the church yard, There the bells so loud she heard.

When she came to the church door, She stopped to rest a little more; When she came to the church within, The parson prayed 'gainst pride and sin. On looking up, on looking down, She saw a dead man on the ground; And from his nose unto his chin, The worms crawled out, the worms crawled in.

Then she unto the parson said, Shall I be so when I am dead? O yes! O yes, the parson said, You will be so when you are dead.*