A little black thing in the snow
Crying "weep! weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"
"They are both gone up to the church to pray

"Because I was happy upon the heath
And smiled among the winter's snow
They clothed me in the clothes of death
And taught me to sing the notes of woe

"And because I am happy and dance and sing
They think they have done me no injury
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king
Who make up a heaven of our misery."