The Cruel Mother

There was a lady lived in york

All alone and so lonely

Her father’s clark came a courting her

All down by the greenwood sidey

He courted her for seven long years

All alone and so lonely

Until she has proved with child by him

All down by the greenwood sidey

She leaned her back against an oak

All alone and so lonely

But first it bent and then it broke

All down by the greenwood sidey

She leaned her back against a thorn

All alone and so lonely

And there she has had three babies born

All down by the greenwood sidey

She pulled a knife so long and sharp

All alone and so lonely

And pierced those babies innocent hearts

All down by the greenwood sidey

As she walked by her fathers hall

All alone and so lonely

She spied three babies a playing with the ball

All down by the greenwood sidey

“Babes oh babes, if you were mine

All alone and so lonely

I’d dress you up in silk so fine

All down by the greenwood sidey”

“Mother oh mother, we once were thine

All alone and so lonely

You dressed us neither in silk nor fine

All down by the greenwood sidey”

“Babes oh babes, it’s heaven for you

All alone and so lonely"

"Oh mother oh mother, it’s hell for you

All down by the greenwood sidey”