The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #161752   Message #3846343
Posted By: GUEST,diplocase
23-Mar-17 - 02:38 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Son Oh Son / Sheath & Knife
Subject: Lyr Add: SON OH SON (from Boiled in Lead)
Can anyone point me to recordings of this American version of Sheath and Knife, apart from Boiled in Lead on their album Orb? I don't have their liner notes. Any background on where it was first collected, any collection it appears in? Many thanks, diplocase

Son Oh Son
(Down By the Greenwood Side, Sheath & Knife Child #6 w elements of Edward, Child #13)
as sung by Boiled in Lead

It's up in the kitchen, down in the hall
        All a-lee and a-lonely
Willie's the father of his sister's child
        Down by the greenwood side

Took her down to the merry wood
        All a-lee and a-lonely
There he shot his sister dead
        Down by the greenwood side

He goes back to his mother's home
        All a-lee and a-lonely
Welcome to me, my son, my son
        Down by the greenwood side

Son, oh Son, why are you so pale?
        All a-lee and a-lonely
I been down in the greenwoodd hunting quail
        Down by the greenwood side

There's no quail away down there
        All a-lee and a-lonely
I'm down there killing a white-tail deer
        Down by the greenwood side

There's no pistol kills a deer
        All a-lee and a-lonely
O Willie, where's your sister dear?
        Down by the greenwood side

Oh Mother, oh, Mother make my bed
        All a-lee and a-lonely
For I have shot my sister dead
        Down by the greenwood side

Then Son, where will you go
        All a-lee and a-lonely
For your Father will kill you when he comes to know
        Down by the greenwood side

He'll bury you under yon mill
        All a-lee and a-lonely
If he doesn't kill you, I surely will
        Down by the greenwood side