Cruel Mother

Lyrics for Cruel Mother

The fairest lady in the land She was all alone and lonely She fell in love with a married man Down in the greenwood valley He leaned her back against an oak She was all alone and lonely And at first it bent and then it broke Down in the greenwood valley She leaned her back against a thorn She was all alone and lonely And there she had two babies born Down in the greenwood valley She took a knife out clean and sharp She was all alone and lonely And she pierced it through each tender heart Down in the greenwood valley She buried them beneath a stone She was all alone and lonely And she returned a fair maid home Down in the greenwood valley Then one day in her father’s hall She was all alone and lonely She saw two children playing ball Down in the greenwood valley She said "Children, oh, if you were mine" Though I'm all alone and lonely I would dress you up in silk so fine Down in the greenwood valley Oh, mother, we were yours one time We were all alone and lonely And you did not treat us then so kind Down in the greenwood valley You'll be seven years the tongue in a bell You'll be all alone and lonely And forever more you shall burn in hell Down in the greenwood valley Oh, welcome tongue in the morning bell All alone and lonely And welcome, welcome flames of hell Down in the greenwood valley