There was a lady lived in York
All the lee and loney
Fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
She loved him up, she loved him down
All the lee and loney
Loved him 'til he filled her arms
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
She leant her back against an oak
All the lee and loney
First it bent and then it broke
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
She leant her back against a thorn
All the lee and loney
There she had two fine babes born
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
She took out her reaping knife
All the lee and loney
There she took those sweet babes' lives
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
She wiped the blade against her shoe
All the lee and loney
The more she rubbed, the redder it grew
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
She went back to her father's hall
All the lee and loney
Saw two babes a-playing at ball
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
'Oh babes oh babes if you were mine'
All the lee and loney
I'd dress you up in scarlet fine'
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
'Oh Mother oh Mother if we were yours'
All the lee and loney
'Scarlet was our own hearts' blood'
Down by the greenwood sidey-o
'Oh babes oh babes it's heaven for you'
All the lee and loney
'Oh Mother oh Mother it's hell for you'
Down by the greenwood sidey-o.
