There was a lady lived in York — all the lee and loney
Fell in love with her father’s clerk — down by the greenwood sidey-o
She loved him up, she loved him down — all the lee and loney
Loved him 'til he filled her arms — down by the greenwood sidey-o
She leant her back against an oak — all the lee and loney
First it bent and then it broke — down by the greenwood sidey-o
She leant her back against a thorn — all the lee and loney
There she had two fine babes born — down by the greenwood sidey-o
She took out her reaping knife — all the lee and loney
There she took those sweet babes' lives — down by the greenwood sidey-o
She wiped the blade against her shoe — all the lee and loney
The more she rubbed, the redder it grew — down by the greenwood sidey-o
She went back to her father’s hall — all the lee and loney
Saw two babes a-playing at ball — down by the greenwood sidey-o
'Oh babes oh babes if you were mine' - all the lee and loney
'I'd dress you up in scarlet fine' - down by the greenwood sidey-o
'Oh Mother oh Mother if we were yours' - all the lee and loney
'Scarlet was our own hearts' blood' - down by the greenwood sidey-o
'Oh babes oh babes it’s Heaven for you' - all the lee and loney
'Oh Mother oh Mother it’s Hell for you' - down by the greenwood sidey-o