Dance, dance the shaking of the sheets,
Dance, dance when you hear the piper playing,
Everyone must dance
the shaking of the sheets with me.

Bring away the beggar, bring away the king,
and every man in his degree.
Bring away the oldest and the youngest [bad word] to death and follow me.
Bring away the merchant who made his money in France,
and the crafty banker too,
When you hear the piper, you and I must dance
the dance that everyone must do.

I'll find you in the courtrooms, I'll find you in the schools,
when you hear the piper play.
I'll take away the wise men, I'll take away the fools
and bring their bodies all to clay.
All the politicians of high and low degree,
lords and ladies, great and small.
Don't think that you'll escape and need not dance with me,
I'll make [bad word] when I do call.

It may be in the day, it may be in the night,
prepare yourselves to dance and pray.
That when the piper plays "the shaking of the sheets"
you may to heaven dance the way.