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