Ashes, ashes, all fall down
Upon their knees before their God;
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
And bare their backs for chast’ning rod.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
Christ’s forty days to emulate;
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
Upon their sins to meditate.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
Anticipate the Christ’s return;
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
The discipline of sorrow learn.
Soon the pocketful of posey,
Soon the Crucified will rise;
Soon the ring around the rosey,
Soon Easter anthem swell the skies.
But now we learn from children’s game
The time to smile, the time to frown;
Recurring Lent is still the same:
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.
