Down By the Greenwood Sidee- Manthe (WV) 1975
[From Folks Songs from the West Virginia Hills by Patrick Gainer 1975. His notes follow. This is likely a ballad recreation by Gainer.
R. Matteson 2014]
DOWN BY THE GREENWOOD SIDEE (CHILD 20, "THE CRUEL MOTHER")
We have found Child ballad No. 20 numerous times in West Virginia, with no significant variations in the story. In some uersions three babes are born to the unwed mother, but in others, as in this one, there are two babes. In all versions the babes are born in secret in the woods and are immediately murdered by the mother. As she is returning home she sees two pretty babes but does not know they are the ghosts of the babies she has just murdered. Sung by Stella Manthe, Gilmer County.
1. There was a lady who lived in York,
O lilly and lone - lee,
She fell in love with her grandfather's clerk.
Down by the green-wood sidee.
2. He loved her up and he loved her down,
O lilly and lonelee,
He loved her till he filled her arms,
Down by the greenwood sidee.
She placed her foot up against an oak,
O lilly and lonelee,
And first it bent and then it broke,
Down by the greenwood sidee.
She placed her foot up against a thorn,
O lilly and lonelee,
And there those two little babes were born,
Down by the greenwood sidee.
5 She had a knife both keen and sharp,
O lilly and lonelee,
She pierced those two little babes to the heart,
Down bY the greenwood sidee.
6 She buried them under a marble stone,
O lilly and lonelee,
And thought this never would be known,
Down bY the greenwood sidee'
7 As she was going to her grandfather's hall,
O lilly and lonelee,
She saw those two little babes playing ball,
Down by the greenwood sidee.
8 "O babes, O babes, if you were mine,"
O lilly and lonelee,
"I'd dress you up in silks so fine,"
Down bY the greenwood sidee'
9 "O mother, O mother' we once were thine,"
O lilly and lonelee,
"But you neither dressed us in coarse nor fine,"
Down by the greenwood sidee'
10 "O babes, O babes, can I ever come there?"
O lillY and lonelee,
"No, mother' no' mother, you can't come here'
Down bY the greenwood sidee'
11 "We'll stand in heaven and ring a bell,"
O lillY and lonelee,
"When your poor soul is doomed to hell,"
Down bY the greenwood sidee'