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Cruel Mother

from The Wishing Well by The Maggie Darlings

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about

This very old song. Collected by musicologist Francis James Child and also by Steve Roud, (Child 20, Roud 9). Connell put this version together, originally writing the arrangement to suit the vocals of Sally Taylor for a Stray Hens recording. Her main influences for this track come from Alistair Hulett, Karine Polwart and English singer Chris Wood.

Connell is a fan of modern ballad singers, such as Kirsty Bromley, Eliza Carthy and Ewan McLennan.

You can find other examples of Mandy's work under her name and under the name Stray Hens

mandyconnell.com

lyrics

The Cruel Mother: Trad Arr Mandy Connell

I went walking in the woods one night
All alone and aloney O
Saw two babes playing at the ball
Down by the Greenwood Sidey O

Oh Babes oh Babes if you were mine,
I'd dress you up in scarlet fine
I wouldn't go walkin by the riverside
Down by the Greenwood Sidey-O

Oh mother mother we were thine
You didnt dress us coarse or fine
You wen't walking by the riverside
Pushed your back against a thorn
pushed and you pushed til we were born
Put the rope around our neck and
You pulled on the rope til we were dead.

Oh Babes oh Babes what am I to do
for the cruel thing that I did to you
Bonnie boys come tell to me what kind of death I'll have to die
Seven years as a fish in the flood
Seven years as a bird in the wood
Seven years a tongue in the warning bell
Seven years in the flames of hell

Oooohhhh

I went walking in the woods one night
All alone and aloney O
Saw two babes playing at the ball
Down by the Greenwood Sidey O

credits

from The Wishing Well, released August 9, 2017
Traditional song, arranged by Mandy Connell
Mandy Connell (Stray Hens)- arranger, lead vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Layla Jean Fibbins (Sideshow Brides)- BV's and Banjo/ Lap Steel
Alysia Manceau - Backing Vocals

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Thirty Mill Studios
Album Artwork by Tracey Roberts of Pangaea Productions

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Mandy Connell Music Melbourne, Australia

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