Down By the Greenwood Side- Dusenbury (Ark) 1930
[From Vance Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, vol. 1, pp. 73-74, no. 8, with sheet music.
R. Matteson 2014]
Down By the Greenwood Side- Mrs. Emma L. Dusenbury, Mena, Arkansas, June 1, 1930.
She lean'd her back ag'in the thorns,
All aloney,
An' there she had two pretty sons born,
Down by the greenwood side.
She had a little pen knife both keen and sharp,
All aloney,
An' she pierced them tender babies' heart,
Down by the greenwood side.
She washed her knife all in the flood,
All aloney,
She turned the river all to blood,
Down by the greenwood side.
As she returned back home again,
All aloney,
She seen three pretty babes playin' with a ball,
Down by the greenwood side.
One was dressed in silks so fine,
All aloney,
T'other two was naked as they was born,
Down by the greenwood side.
Oh babes, oh babes, if you was mine,
All aloney,
I'd take an' dress you in silks so fine,
Down by the greenwood side.
Oh mother, oh mother, when we was yours,
All aloney,
You neither dressed us in silks, nor coarse nor fine,
Down by the greenwood side.
You dressed us in our own heart's blood,
All aloney,
You turned the river all to blood,
Down by the greenwood side.
Seven years, seven years you shall burn in hell,
All aloney,
Seven years you shall never enter heaven,
Down by the greenwood side.