Lyr Req: The Cruel Mother

Subject: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From:
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 05:04 AM

I am looking for the lyrics of an irish folksong - problem is I don´t know the title.

But I do know some part of the text. Starts up with:

"And there was an old (or a little??) woman and she lived in the woods"

Last verse goes like this:

"And that was the end of the woman in the woods ...."

Can anybody tell me the title of this song and give me an advice where I can find the lyrics?

Or, if anybody knows the lyrics, please send them to my address: [e-mail]

Thanx a lot!

H. friedrich

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From: AndyG
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 05:29 AM

These three threads contain versions of the song:
Thead one
Thead two
Thead three
Hope these links help. You'll need to wade through to sort out a version you like.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From: Ian
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 07:35 AM

Weilya Woiya (or variations). It's a version of "The Cruel Mother" (Child #20) as sung by schoolchildren in many parts of Britain and Ireland. "The Dubliners" did a version, so did "The Spinners". If you're into street songs, you might also be interested in another song called "'Enery my son" which is a London street version of "Lord Randall" (Child #2 or #4 I think). This doesn't appear to be in the DT database. I really like singing childrens' songs about violent deaths and poisoning etc. Time to start another thread?

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From: Den
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 05:42 PM

Weila Waile I know it well and sang it with great gusto in school Well there was an old woman and she lived in the wood Weila weila waila there was an old woman and she lived in the wood down by the river Saile (pronounced Salya)

She had a baby six monthes old chorus weila weila waila she had ababy six monthes old down by the river Saile

She had a penknife long and sharp (chorus)

She stuck the penknife in the baby's head (chorus)

There were three loud knocks came a knockin' on the door (chorus)

It was three policemen and a special branch man (chorus)

They put a rope around her neck (chorus)

They pulled the rope and she got hung (chorus)

And that was the end of the woman in the woods weila weila waila and that was the end of the baby too down by the river Saile

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From: bill\sables
Date: 02 Apr 99 - 09:29 AM

An alternative to the last verse above is ; The moral of the story is weila etc Dont stick knives in baby's heads Down by etc. Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From:
Date: 04 Apr 99 - 10:24 AM

Looking for the lyrics to "Dingle Bay"

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From:
Date: 04 Apr 99 - 10:25 AM

Looking for the lyrics to "Dingle Bay"

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From: svenne
Date: 04 Apr 99 - 12:13 PM

I am currently looking for the lyrics to an old tune named Farewell to Rhonda it was recorded by an Irish group named the Bards a few years ago. If anyone knows the lyric to this tune please mail me regards Ulf Svensson. emailto me is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Looking for Irish folksong lyrics
From: H. Friedrich
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 04:13 AM

Thanx a lot to everyone who added info to my request. I have to admit, I did not expect help that fast and that much!

Now I`ve got everything I need: Different versions of lyrics, informations about the song, different singers/groups who recorded it - what more could I want!

Thanx again - and I do hope I can pay it back!

H. Friedrich