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The Cruel Mother 2 
The Cruel Mother 2 Sung by Mrs. Bowring, Cerne Abbas, Dorset 
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. 
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 stark-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 JY