The Cruel Mother

In Logan's woods, aye in Logan's braes
I helped ma bonnie lassie on wi' her claithes
First her hoes and then her shune
She gart me the slip when she was done

She's leaned her back against a thorn
And there she has twa bonnie babes born
There she has twa bonnie babes born
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

She's dug a hole baith lang and deep
And buried them where nane might see
She's buried them where nane might see
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

She's ta'en a ribbon frae aff her hair
An' she's chokit them though they grat sair
She's chokit them though they grat sair
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

Richt wanley has she gaed hame
Sae nane might meddle wi' her fair fame
Sae nane might meddle wi' her fair fame
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

For days an' weeks she was pale an' wan
What she thoucht o' there's nane could tell
What she thoucht o' there's nane could tell
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

As she was lookin' o'er yon castle wa'
She saw twa bonnie bairnies playin' at a ba'
She saw twa bonnie bairnies playin at a ba'
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

Oh bairns, bairns, gin ye were mine
I'd gie ye coo's milk, I'd gie ye reid wine
I'd gie ye coo's milk and reid wine
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

Oh mother, mother we once were thine
Ye didna gie us coo's milk or reid wine
Ye didna gie us coo's milk or reid wine
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

You took a ribbon frae aff yer hair
An' ye chokit us though we grat sair
Ye chokit us though we grat sair
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

Oh bairns, bairns come tell me true
What the future holds for you
What the future holds for you
Doon by the greenwood sidie o

Oh mother, cruel mother we ken richt weel
Tis we in heaven, in heaven must dwell
While ye maun dreg the fierce fires o' hell
Doon by the greenwood sidie o