MARY’S GHOST
Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

'Twas in the middle of the night,
To sleep young William tried,
When Mary’s ghost came stealing in,
And stood at his bed-side.

O William dear! O William dear!
My rest eternal ceases;
Alas! my everlasting peace
Is broken into pieces.

I thought the last of all my cares
Would end with my last minute;
But tho’ I went to my long home
I didn’t stay long in it.

The body-snatchers they have come,
And made a snatch at me;
It’s very hard them kind of men
Won’t let a body be!

You thought that I was buried deep
Quite decent like and chary,
But from her grave in Mary-bone
They’ve come and boned your Mary.

The arm that used to take your arm
Is took to Dr. Vyse;
And both my legs are gone to walk
The hospital at Guy’s.

I vow’d that you should have my hand,
But fate gives us denial;
You’ll find it there, at Dr. Bell’s
In spirits and a phial.

As for my feet, the little feet
You used to call so pretty,
There’s one, I know, in Bedford Row,
The t’other’s in the city.

I can’t tell where my head is gone,
But Doctor Carpue can:
As for my trunk, it’s all pack’d up
To go by Pickford’s van.*

I wished you’d go to Mr. P.
And save me such a ride;
I don’t half like the outside place,
They’ve took for my inside.

The cock it crows - I must begone!
My William we must part!
But I’ll be yours in death, altho’
Sir Astley has my heart.**

Don’t go to weep upon my grave,
And think that there I be;
They haven’t left an atom there
Of my anatomie.

*Pickford’s removals business was established in the 17th century.

**Sir Astley Paston Cooper, 1st Baronet (1768–1841) was a famous English surgeon and anatomist

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Tomorrow - All The Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein II)

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