Lyke Wake Dirge

Currently used on the BBC One drama The Living The Dead, this song, known as Lyke Wake Dirge is a traditional English song that tells of the soul s travel from Earth to purgatory. Though the song is from the Christian era, much of the symbolism used is of heathen origin. Overall, the song is a warning to the living: Be kind and generous to the poor, or you will regret it when your time comes. The song exists in several different forms, some shorter than others. The word Lyke is an ancient British