The Cruel Mother- Duncan (NS) 1950 Creighton B
[From Creighton and Senior, Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia, 1950. Creighton's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Cruel Mother
[ Child 20 ]
While these are interesting variants, by far the most complete one I have found anywhere is in S.B.N.S., p.3, where two superstitions regarding the incriminating penknife are given: (a) the more she rubbed the blood was seen, and (b) the farther she threw it the nearer it came. It also has the seven-year penances. Since it was published Mr. Henneberry, the singer, added another stanza, which should follow verse 6:
"She buried them under a marble stone,
Now she says I will be home."
In the variants published here note particularly A, verse 4, and B, verse 4.
English texts: Roberts, p.495 Novello's Schoo| Songs, Book 261; Sharp's English Folk-songs, vol. 1, p.35; Williams, p.94; Journal, vol.2, p. 10, and vol.3, p.70.
American texts: Cox, pp.211,30; Davis, pp. 133-186; Fuson, p. 59 [This is a version of Child 79]; Sharp, I, p.56ff.; Mackenzie, p.12; Gerould, pp.50, 63, 140, 141, r1z,155; T.F.S.N.S., with Mr. Henneberry's words and the melody as sung by Mrs. John Smith, A; Barry, pp.80-93; Scarborough, pp. 169-171.
Newfoundland TEXTS: Karpeles, vol. I; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 15.
Library of Congress recordings: Mrs. Duncan, Mr. Ben Henneberry and Nina Bartley Finn.
Cruel Mother [B] sung by Mrs. R. W. Duncan, Dartmouth. The song was noted down twice. Brackets mark the singer's changes. Compare Child, C, D, E, F, H, I and J.
1. There was a lady came from York
All a-lone and a-lone, and a-loney
She fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the greenwood siding.
2. When nine months was gone and past [1]
Then she had two pretty babes born.
3. She leaned herself against a thorn
There she had two pretty babes born.
4. Then she cut her topknot from her head,[2]
And tied those babies' hands and legs.[3]
5. She took her penknife keen and sharp
And pierced those babies' tender hearts.
6. She buried them under a marble stone
And then she said she would go home.
7. As she was (going through) (a-going in) her father's hall
She spied those babes a-playing at a ball.
8. "Oh babes, oh babes if (you were) (thou wast) mine
I would dress you up in silks so fine."
9. "Oh mother dear when we were thine
You did not dress us up in silks so fine,
10. "You took your topknot from your head
And tied us babies' hands and legs.
11. "Then you took your penknife (long) (keen) and sharp
And pierced us babies' tender hearts.
12. "It's seven years to roll a stone
And seven years to toil a bell.
13. "It's mother dear oh we can't tell
Whether your portion is heaven or hell."
1. past and gone
2. This is frequently the garter from her leg.
3. They may have been tied to prevent their ghosts from walking. See Barry, pp. 91, 92.