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”