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The Cruel Mother

No: 20; variant: 20[N]

  1. As I lookit oer my father's castle wa, All alone and alone O I saw two pretty babes playing at the ba. Down by yon green-wood sidie
  2. 'O pretty babes, gin ye were mine,' Hey the loch o the Loanie 'I would clead ye o the silk sae fine.' Down by that green-wood sidie
  3. 'O sweet darlings, gin ye were mine,' Hey the loch o the Loanie 'I would feed ye on the morning's milk.' Down by the green-wood sidie
  4. 'O mither dear, when we were thine,' By the lock o the Loanie 'Ye neither dressd us wi silk nor twine.' Down by this green-wood sidie
  5. 'But ye tuke out your little pen-knife,' By, etc. 'And there ye tuke yer little babes' life.' Down by the, etc.
  6. 'O mither dear, when this ye had done,' Alone by, etc. 'Ye unkirtled yersel, and ye wrapt us in 't.' Down by the, etc.
  7. 'Neist ye houkit a hole fornent the seen.' All alone and alone O 'And tearless ye stappit your little babes in' Down by the, etc.
  8. 'But we are in the heavens high,' And far frae the loch o the Loanie 'But ye hae the pains o hell to d[r]ie.' Before ye leave the green-wood sidie