Cruel Mother
Betrayal's Thorn: Judy Collins' Cruel Mother Tale
Lyrics
There was a lady, lived in the North
Introduction of a lady living in the North.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Mention of a rose and linsie-o, possibly symbolic elements.
She fell in love with her father's clerk
The lady falls in love with her father's clerk.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Setting the scene down by the greenwood sidie-o.
He courted her for a year and a day
The clerk courts her for a year and a day.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Reference to the rose and linsie-o again.
Till her the young man did betray
The young man betrays her.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Reiteration of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
She leaned her back up against a thorn
She leans against a thorn, possibly a metaphor for pain or betrayal.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Reference to the rose and linsie-o once more.
Then she had two pretty babes born
She gives birth to two children.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
She took her penknife, keen and sharp
She takes a sharp penknife.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Reiteration of the rose and linsie-o.
She has stucked it to their hearts
She uses the penknife on the children's hearts.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
As she was walking her father's hall
She walks in her father's hall.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Repetition of the rose and linsie-o.
She saw two babes a-playing ball
She sees her children playing in the greenwood sidie-o.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
She said, "Oh, babes, it's you can tell"
She asks the children about the kind of death she will face.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Reiteration of the rose and linsie-o.
"What kind of death I have to die"
She questions the children about the nature of her death.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
"Seven years a fish in the flood"
The children respond with seven years as a fish in the flood.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Repetition of the rose and linsie-o.
"Seven years a bird in the wood"
Seven years as a bird in the wood.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
"Seven years a tongue in the warning bell"
Seven years as a tongue in the warning bell.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Reiteration of the rose and linsie-o.
"Seven years in the flames of hell"
Seven years in the flames of hell.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
"Oh, welcome, welcome, fish in the flood"
Welcoming the fish in the flood.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Repetition of the rose and linsie-o.
"Welcome, welcome, bird in the wood"
Welcoming the bird in the wood.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Continuation of the greenwood sidie-o setting.
"Welcome, welcome, tongue in the warning bell"
Welcoming the tongue in the warning bell.
Oh, the rose and the linsie-o
Reiteration of the rose and linsie-o.
"God, keep me from the flames in hell"
Seeking God's protection from the flames of hell.
Down by the greenwood sidie-o
Conclusion in the greenwood sidie-o setting.
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