Hmmm. A lot of versions of the Cruel Mother jettison the conception altogether, beginning with the birth. In fact, I have a hunch the conception is a later addition as it seems a tad extraneous to the entire sense of the song. My favourite version is that as sung by Mrs Pearl Brewer in 1958 - listen to it at The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection. I use Mrs Brewer's tune with a Scottish set of words in my own version (currently playing on my Myspace page) and recently explored the notion that the protagonist of The Cruel Mother is, in fact, entirely innocent; a innocence that ultimately transcends the small minded morality that couches the litany of punishments.