Cruel Mother Lyrics & Chords By Martin Carthy

She's laid down all below a thorn
And two bonnie babies she has born,
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

And she's pulled the ribbons from off her hair
And she's choked them though they cried for air.
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

And she's dug a hole all beneath the tree
And she's buried them where none might see.
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

O right wanly as she'd gone home
That none might meddle wi' her fair fame.
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

For weeks and months she was wan and pale
And what ailed her there was no man could tell,
But what ailed her there's no man could tell.

Now as she looked o'er yon castle wall
She spied two bonny babies playing at the ball.
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

"Oh bonny babies if you were mine
I would feed you on the white cow's milk and wine"
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

"Oh cruel mother when we were thine,
Oh, we got none of your white cow's milk and wine."
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

"But you pulled the ribbons from off your hair
And you choked us though we cried for air."
Down by the greenwood side-e-o

"And we now two in heaven do dwell
Whilst ye must drag out the fierce fires of hell."
Down by the greenwood side-e-o