Cruel Mother - Judy Collins

There was a lady lived in the North

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

She fell in love with her faither’s clerk

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

He courted her a year and a day

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

Till her the young man did betray

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

She leaned her back up against a thorn

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

There she had two pretty babes born

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

She took her penknife, keen and sharp

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

She has stuck it through their hearts

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

As she was walking her father’s path

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

She saw two babes a-playing ball

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

She said «O, babes, if you can tell»

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

«What kind of death I have to die.»

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

«Seven years a fish in the flood»

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

«Seven years a bird in the wood»

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

«Seven years a tongue in the warning bell»

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

«Seven years in the flames of hell»

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

«Oh, welcome, welcome, fish in the flood»

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

«Welcome, welcome, bird in the wood»

Down by the greenwood sidie, O

«Welcome, welcome tongue in the warning bell»

Oh, the rose and the linsie O

«God keep me from the flames in Hell.»

Down by the greenwood sidie, O