English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians

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	The Cruel Mother 2 As she was going to her father's hall, All down by the greenwood side, She saw three little babes a-playing ball. All down by the greenwood side. 3 One was Peter and the other was Paul, All down, etc. And the other was as naked as the hour it was born. All down, etc. 4 O babes, O babes, if you were mine, I'd dress you in the silk so fine. 5 O mother, O mother, when we were young, You neither dressed us coarse nor fine. 6 You took your penknife out of your pocket, And you pierced it through our tender hearts. 7 You wiped your penknife on your shoe, And the more you wiped it the bloodier it grew. 8 You buried it under the marble stone, You buried it under the marble stone. 9 The hell gates are open and you must go through, The hell gates are open and you must go through.

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