The Cruel Mother

Sung by Mrs. Bowring, Cerne Abbas, Dorset



.i.There was a lady lived in York,

All alone and a loney,

A farmer's son he courted her

All down by the greenwood sidey.



He courted her for seven long years.

All alone and a loney,

At last she proved in child for him.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



She pitched her knee against a tree,

All alone and a loney,

And there she found great misery.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



She pitched her back against a thorn,

All alone and a loney,

And there she had her baby born.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



She drew the fillet off her head.

All alone and a loney,

She bound the baby's hands and legs.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



She drew a knife both long and sharp.

All alone and a loney,

She pierced the baby's innocent heart.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



She wiped the knife upon the grass.

All alone and a loney,

The more she wiped, the blood run fast.

All down by the greenwood sidey.

CRUEL MOTHER

She washed her hands all in the spring.

All alone and a loney,

Thinking to turn a maid again.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



As she was going to her father's hall,

All alone and a loney,

She saw three babes a-playing at ball.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



One dressed in silk, the other in satin,

All alone and a loney,

The other star-naked as ever was born.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



O, dear baby, if you was mine,

All alone and a loney,

I'd dress you in silk and satin so fine.

All down by the greenwood sidey.

O, dear mother, I once was thine.

All alone and a loney,

You would never dress me coarse or fine.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



The coldest earth it was my bed.

All alone and a loney,

The green grass was my coverlet.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



O, mother, mother, for your sin,

All alone and a loney,

Heaven gate you shall not enter in.

All down by the greenwood sidey.



There is a fire beyond hell's gate,

All alone and a loney,

And there you shall burn both early and late.

All down by the greenwood sidey.

Child #20

@murder @baby

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JY

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