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about

A Scots version of The Cruel Mother, Child Ballad 20. In a session, this dark tale builds menace through a hypnotic tune, especially when other singers join in on the frequent, chant-like refrain lines to crank up the atmosphere until the final punch is delivered. Elspeth Cowie learned this version from the late Lizzie Higgins, Aberdeen. The melody is a pipe tune, The Greenwoodside. Other versions still heard not infrequently around the United Kingdom traditional music scene include Down by the Greenwoodside and Fine Flowers in the Valley.

lyrics

Cruel Mither
(Traditional/E Cowie)

The second and fourth lines of the first verse are the refrains. They repeat throughout in the same position in each verse.

She's leaned her back against an oak
All alone and alonie-o
She's pushed and she's pushed till her back's near broke
Down by the bonnie greenwoodsidie-o

She's leaned her head against a thorn
All alone...etc
The twa bonniest babes that ever were born
Down by...etc

She's gone back to her father's castle ha'
She was the smallest maid o' them a'

As she looked over her father's castle wall
She saw twa babes playin' wi' their ba'

O dear babes, gin ye were mine
I'd gie ye bread, an' I'd gie ye wine

Ah, cruel mither, when we were thine
Around our necks you pulled the twine

We are in the heavens so fine
And in Hell's fire you will burn

credits

from Lullabee: A sampler of a cappella songs from Elspeth Cowie, released August 7, 2023
Traditional, arranged Elspeth Cowie.

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about

Elspeth Cowie Spain

Elspeth Cowie is a leading singer of folk and traditional songs, notably from Scotland, but also Americana. Her life and musical journey has spanned many places, genres, and decades. This shows in the arrangements she produces across, and sometimes fusing, genres. "If a song's got soul, it's worth singing whatever the label on it," she says. "Why paint with just one colour?" ... more

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