Cruel Mother

from O Mother by John W. Snyder

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lyrics

There was a lady that lived in York
All alone and a loney O
She proved with child by her own father's clerk
Down by a greenwood sidey O

As she was walking down her father's lawn,
All alone and a loney O
She thought three times that her back would be broke
Down by a greenwood sidey O

As she was walking down her father's lawn,
All alone and a loney O
She says honourable Mary pity me,
Down by a greenwood sidey O

As she was walking down her father's lawn
Where her fine sons were born, were born
She pulled out her long penknife
And there she took away their three lives

Years went by and one summer's morn,
All alone and a loney O
She saw three boys they were playing bat and ball
Down by a greenwood sidey O

O my fine boys if you were mine
Sure I'd dress you up in silk so fine
O mother dear, when we were yours
You did not dress us in silk so fine
You pulled out your long penknife
And there you took away our three lives

O my fine boys, what will become of me?
You'll be seven long years a bird in a tree
You'll be seven long years a tongue in a bell
All alone and a loney O
And you'll be seven long years a porter in hell
Down by a greenwood sidey O

credits

from O Mother, released July 13, 2018

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John W. Snyder Los Angeles, California

John W. Snyder is a composer and pianist in Los Angeles.

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