Better Unborn

Better it would be for me

And better it would have been

Had I not been born, not grown

Not been brought into the world

Not had to come to this earth

Not been suckled for the world

If I'd died a three night old

Been lost in my swaddling hand

I'd have needed but a span of doth

A span more of wood

But a cubit of good earth

Two words from the priest

Three verses from the cantor

One clang from the bell

Better it would be for me

And better it would have been

Had I not been born, not grown

Not been brought into the world

Not had to come to this earth

Not been suckled for the world

I'd rather die, I'd rather be better unborn

If I'd died a three night old

Been lost in my swaddling hand

I'd have needed but a span of doth

A span more of wood

But a cubit of good earth

Two words from the priest

Three verses from the cantor

One clang from the bell

Better it would be for me

And better it would have been

Had I not been born, not grown

Not been brought into the world

Not had to come to this earth

Not been suckled for the world

I'd rather die, I'd rather be better unborn