The Greenwood Side (The Cruel Mother) - Ian & Sylvia

There was a lady lived in York

On-a-lee an lonee

Fell in love with her father’s clerk

Down by the green woodside-io

She loved him up she loved him down

On-a-lee and lonee

Loved him till he filled her arms

Down by the green woodside-io

She leaned her back against an oak

On-a-lee and lonee

First it bent and then it broke

Down by the green woodside-io

She leaned her back against a thorn

On-a-lee and lonee

There she had two fine babes born

Down by the green woodside-io

She took out her wee pn knife

On-a-lee and lonee

There sh took those sweet babes' life

Down by the green woodside-io

She rubbed the blade against her shoe

On-a-lee and lonee

The more she rubbed the redder it grew

Down by the green woodside-io

She went back to her father’s hall

On-a-lee and lonee

Saw two babes a playin' at ball

Down by the green woodside-io

O babes O babes, if you were mine

On-a-lee and lonee

I’d dress you up in scarlet fine

Down by the green woodside-io

O mother O mother when we were yours

On-a-lee and lonee

Scarlet was our own heart’s blood

Down by the green woodside-io

O babes O babes it’s heaven for you

On-a-lee and lonee

Mother O mother it’s hell for you

Down by the green woodside-io