There was a lady lived in York
On-a-lee an lonee
Fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the green woodside-io
She loved him up she loved him down
On-a-lee and lonee
Loved him till he filled her arms
Down by the green woodside-io
She leaned her back against an oak
On-a-lee and lonee
First it bent and then it broke
Down by the green woodside-io
She leaned her back against a thorn
On-a-lee and lonee
There she had two fine babes born
Down by the green woodside-io
She took out her wee pen knife
On-a-lee and lonee
There she took those sweet babes' life
Down by the green woodside-io
She rubbed the blade against her shoe
On-a-lee and lonee
The more she rubbed the redder it grew
Down by the green woodside-io
She went back to her father's hall
On-a-lee and lonee
Saw two babes a playin' at ball
Down by the green woodside-io
O babes O babes, if you were mine
On-a-lee and lonee
I'd dress you up in scarlet fine
Down by the green woodside-io
O mother O mother when we were yours
On-a-lee and lonee
Scarlet was our own heart's blood
Down by the green woodside-io
O babes O babes it's heaven for you
On-a-lee and lonee
Mother O mother it's hell for you
Down by the green woodside-io