Digging graves is my delight,
Digging graves for you to lie in.
Digging graves from morn' till night,
I makes me living from the dying.
Digging graves the whole day long,
And as I dig I sing this song
To anybody that comes along,
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so begins my song.
Rich and poor all come the same,
I bury you all there's none as favour.
Don't spend your life in seeking gain;
No gold from death will ever save you.
Mighty men with wealth and riches,
Beggars too in rags and stitches;
All end up in the wooden britches.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so my song goes on.
Some we bury with foul diseases,
Some will die still young and pretty.
Death will take just who it pleases,
For in death there is no pity.
Mangled men with sightless eyes,
Babes in arms and maids like wives,
Fit or foolish, weak or wise.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so I sing my song.
You might be dancing in the street,
You might be gay, you might be grieving.
You might be singing a song so sweet
But you'll not cheat death, there's no deceiving.
In the street or in the hall,
Whether you skip or whether you crawl,
Death could come any time at all.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so my song goes on.
Death come early, death come late,
It takes us all, there is no reason.
For every purpose under heaven,
To each a turn, to each a season.
A time to weep and a time to sigh,
A time to laugh and a time to cry,
A time to be born and a time to die.
Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,
And so I end my song.