Cruel Mother

There was a lady, lived in York
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
She fell in love with her father's clerk
Go bear away the boughs of yew

She loved him long and many a day
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
Till big with child she went away
Go bear away the boughs of yew

She went unto the wilderness
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
Being pitied for her heaviness
Go bear away the boughs of yew

She leaned her back against a thorn
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
And there she has two babies born
Go bear away the boughs of yew

She took a penknife, long and sharp
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
And stabbed them both right to the heart
Go bear away the boughs of yew

The black, black earth it was their bed
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
The green, green grass their coverlet
Go bear away the boughs of yew

As she passed by her father's hall
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
She saw two babes playing with a ball
Go bear away the boughs of yew

Oh babes, oh babes, if you were mine
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
I'd dress you up in silk so fine
Go bear away the boughs of yew

Oh mother, oh mother, we once were thine
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
But now we sleep with Christ divine
Go bear away the boughs of yew

Oh mother, mother, for your sin
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
The gates of Hell you'll enter in
Go bear away the boughs of yew

But Heaven is naught to my babies fair
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
And Hell is naught to this despair
Go bear away the boughs of yew

For I leaned my back against an oak
Come gentle heart, speak to me true
But first it bent, and then it broke
Go bear away the boughs of yew