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