THE CRUEL MOTHER

There was a lady lived in York,
All alone and a loney oh,
She fell in love with her father's clerk,
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

He courted her for seven long years.
All alone and a loney oh,
At last she proved in child for him.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

She pitched her knee against a tree,
All alone and a loney oh,
And there she found great misery.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

She pitched her back against a thorn,
All alone and a loney oh,
And there she had her baby born.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

From off her head she drew a band,
All alone and a loney oh,
And bound the baby, foot and hand,
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

She drew a dagger long and sharp.
All alone and a loney oh,
And there she pierced his innocent heart.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

She washed her hands all in the spring.
All alone and a loney oh,
Thinking to turn a maid again.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

As she went back to her father's hall,
All alone and a loney oh,
She saw three babes a-playing at ball.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

O baby, O baby, if you was mine,
All alone and a loney oh,
I'd dress you up in satin so fine.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

O, dear mother, when I was thine.
All alone and a loney oh,
You dressed me up neither coarse nor fine.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

The cold earth it was my bed.
All alone and a loney,
The green grass was my coverlet.
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.

O, baby, O baby it heaven for thee
All alone and a loney oh,
O mother, O mother it's hell for thee
Down by the greenwood sidey oh.