The Cruel Mother

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