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 fine 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