Adieu O Earth with all thy strife,
And all the boasted pleasure
I'm bound to gain eternal life
I seek no other treasure.

Thy transient joys are dross at best,
Or like an empty bubble
They yield no solid happiness,
But end in pain and trouble.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Patterson, D W, 1979, The Shaker Spiritual, Princeton University Press, New Jersey

Notes:
Patterson wrote:

The first half of this melody is a variant of the short-phrase ballad tune "The Braes of Yarrow." In keeping with Shaker preferences, the singer added and repeated material to make a second strain. The song dates from 1853. The singer was at the Gathering Order at Shirley and must not long have bid his adieu to eathly strife and pleasure.

Analogue: "The Braes of Yarrow" in Bronson, Traditional Tunes, iii, 320, no 22.

Roud:
Laws:
Child:

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Related Songs:  The Dowie Dens of Yarrow (melodic)