Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cruel Mother (from Paul Clayton) From: Mrrzy Date: 29 Mar 21 - 09:08 AM I had that record. Great cover art. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cruel Mother (from Paul Clayton) From: GeoffLawes Date: 27 Mar 21 - 01:05 PM Paul Clayton -- The Cruel Mother https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-etteA3j88 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cruel Mother (from Paul Clayton) From: GUEST,# Date: 27 Mar 21 - 01:01 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-etteA3j88 Paul Clayton singing the song at that link. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cruel Mother (from Paul Clayton) From: Steve Gardham Date: 07 Jan 11 - 03:35 PM Interesting! I've checked all the versions in Child and Bronson and none of the longer versions have this 'deep and wide'-'side by side' rhyme. It could well be from one of the many literary rewrites. I quite like it though. It's a common rhyming combination in ballads. I think I'll add it to my version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cruel Mother (from Paul Clayton) From: Jim Dixon Date: 07 Jan 11 - 02:21 PM This might help: From The Lost Beauties of the English Language by Charles Mackay (New York: J. W. Bouton, 1874), page 90: Howk, to dig, or scrape up the earth like an animal, or without tools. He's howket a grave by the light o' the moon.[It doesn't say which version of CRUEL MOTHER he was quoting from, however, and a Google search doesn't turn it up.] |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE CRUEL MOTHER (from Paul Clayton) From: Roberto Date: 05 Jun 04 - 04:18 PM I'd like to complete (and correct) this transcription from Paul Clayton's recording of the ballad THE CRUEL MOTHER (F. J. Child #20), British and American MURDER BALLADS, Washington 727. The main problems are in the 7th and 13th stanzas. Thanks. Roberto THE CRUEL MOTHER (from Paul Clayton) 1. There was a lady lived in York All alone and alonee Who fell in love with her father's clerk Down by the greenwood sidey 2. She leaned her back against a tree All alone and alonee And there began her misery Down by the greenwood sidey 3. She placed her foot against a thorn All alone and alonee And there she got her three babes born Down by the greenwood sidey 4. She took a rope so long and neat All alone and alonee And tied them down both hands and feet Down by the greenwood sidey 5. She took her penknife keen and sharp All alone and alonee And pierced those little babes to the heart Down by the greenwood sidey 6. She took the satins was on her head All alone and alonee And rolled them in it when they were dead Down by the greenwood sidey 7. She's ... a hole both deep and wide All alone and alonee And there she laid them side by side Down by the greenwood sidey 8. She buried them under a branch of rue All alone and alonee And prayed to the Lord they'd never come to Down by the greenwood sidey 9. She covered them over with a marble stone All alone and alonee And then returned as a maiden home Down by the greenwood sidey 10. One day as she looked o'er the castle wall All alone and alonee She spied three babes a-playing with ball Down by the greenwood sidey 11. O little babes if you were mine All alone and alonee I'd dress you up in satins fine Down by the greenwood sidey 12. O mother dear when we were thine All alone and alonee You did not use us half so kind Down by the greenwood sidey 13. You neither dress us in satin so good All alone and alonee You dressed us ... in our own heart's blood Down by the greenwood sidey 14. O little babes if you can tell All alone and alonee How long on earth am I to dwell? Down by the greenwood sidey 15. Seven long years on earth to dwell All alone and alonee The balance of you time you will spend it in Hell Down by the greenwood sidey |
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