In traditional Celtic cultures, including both the Irish and Scottish cultures, bagpipes have always been an important part of a traditional funeral.

Telling of the soul's travel and the hazards it faces on its way from Earth to Heaven, the funeral chant, A Lyke Wake Dirge has been used for many years as a poem which addresses both the corpse and the mourner.

First collected in 1686 by John Aubrey, the origin of the chant dates as far back as the 14th century, where in Cleveland, North Yorkshire, women were said to have sung the chant during a traditional watch (wake), at the side of a corpse (lyke); a reference to the songs title which describes the act of watching over the dead between death and funeral.

Considered a chilling piece of work with its stark beauty, ominous beat and uncompromising tones, the poem laments in metaphorical detail the death of a person and his journey as the soul crosses a thorny moor, tumbling into the flames of Hell and crossing the Bridge of Dread to reach Purgatory where Christ awaits to "receive your soul".

During the 60s' the dirge saw an emergence of popularity as a number of folk groups, notably The Young Tradition and Pentangle began performing it.

Lyke Wake Dirge

Read more:

http://www.duntemann.com/likewakepage.htm

http://wordandlife.info/audio/20101014-Dirge.pdf