<P> The Book of Common Prayer text of "In the midst of life we are in death" has been set to music in the Booke of Common praier noted (1550) by John Merbecke and in Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary by Henry Purcell . </P> <P> The Latin text was popularised anew by the Irish choir Anúna in a four - part harmony version, with the line of text "Juste irasceris" left out because, according to Michael McGlynn, "The particular piece of parchment I was working from was missing those lines". </P> <P> "In the midst of life we are in death etc ." occurs in the 1995 song by The Smiths, "Sweet and Tender Hooligan". </P>

In the midst of life we are in death etc