Child's Ballads Week 12: England - Assignments - Reading - Resources - Images

The Cruel Mother (Child 20) Listening time: (3 minutes)

AUDIO RECORDING

VERSE 1
There was a maid, who had two babes
All alone and lone
She laid those babes down hand in hand
And with a knife, cut off their heads
All down by th greenwood side

VERSE 2
She buried those babes both under a stone
All alone and lone
And prayed to th Lord, it would never be known
All down by th greenwood side

VERSE 3
This maid was passing by one day
All alone and lone
She saw those babes both out for play
All down by th greenwood side

VERSE 4
O babes, o babes, if you were mine
All alone and lone
I'd dress you up in silk, so fine
All down by th greenwood side

VERSE 5
O Mother, dear Mother, we once't were yours
All alone and lone
You neither gave us coarse nor fine
You killed and buried us under a stone
And prayed to th Lord it would never be known
All down by th greenwood side

VERSE 6
For seven long years, you shall hear a bell
All alone and lone
And at th end of seven years you shall land in hell
All down by th greenwood side

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read: how does the woman kill the two babies? how do the babies come back to haunt her? what do the ghosts say is going to happen to her? Source: From The Max Hunter Folksong Archive (weblink) and Lesley Nelson's Child Ballad website (weblink). See also Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898). Weblink.