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The Cruel Mother

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In Logan's woods, aye in Logan's braes I helped ma bonnie lassie on wi' her claithes First her hoes and then her shune She gart me the slip when she was done She's leaned her back against a thorn And there she has twa bonnie babes born There she has twa bonnie babes born Doon by the greenwood sidie o She's dug a hole baith lang and deep And buried them where nane might see She's buried them where nane might see Doon by the greenwood sidie o She's ta'en a ribbon frae aff her hair An' she's chokit them though they grat sair She's chokit them though they grat sair Doon by the greenwood sidie o Richt wanley has she gaed hame Sae nane might meddle wi' her fair fame Sae nane might meddle wi' her fair fame Doon by the greenwood sidie o For days an' weeks she was pale an' wan What she thoucht o' there's nane could tell What she thoucht o' there's nane could tell Doon by the greenwood sidie o As she was lookin' o'er yon castle wa' She saw twa bonnie bairnies playin' at a ba' She saw twa bonnie bairnies playin at a ba' Doon by the greenwood sidie o Oh bairns, bairns, gin ye were mine I'd gie ye coo's milk, I'd gie ye reid wine I'd gie ye coo's milk and reid wine Doon by the greenwood sidie o Oh mother, mother we once were thine Ye didna gie us coo's milk or reid wine Ye didna gie us coo's milk or reid wine Doon by the greenwood sidie o You took a ribbon frae aff yer hair An' ye chokit us though we grat sair Ye chokit us though we grat sair Doon by the greenwood sidie o Oh bairns, bairns come tell me true What the future holds for you What the future holds for you Doon by the greenwood sidie o Oh mother, cruel mother we ken richt weel Tis we in heaven, in heaven must dwell While ye maun dreg the fierce fires o' hell Doon by the greenwood sidie o