There was a lady in New York
All along little Omie
She fell in love with her father's clerk
All down by the greenwood sidey
As she was going over the bridge
All along little Omie
She found herself a-growing big
All down by the greenwood sidey
She leaned her back against an oak
All along little Omie
First it bent, and then it broke
All down by the greenwood sidey
She leaned herself against a thorn
All along little Omie
There she had two little babes born
All down by the greenwood sidey
She carried a penknife both keen and sharp
All along little Omie
She pierced those little babes to the heart
All down by the greenwood sidey
She buried them under a bunch of rue
All along little Omie
She prayed to the Lord they'd never come to
All down by the greenwood sidey
As she was walking 'cross the porch
All along little Omie
She saw two little babes at play
All down by the greenwood sidey
"O babes, O babes, if you were mine,"
All along little Omie
"I'd dress you up in silk so fine."
All down by the greenwood sidey
"Mother, O mother, when we were thine,"
All along little Omie
"You neither dressed us coarse nor fine."
All down by the greenwood sidey
"Mother, O mother, for our sakes,"
All along little Omie
"You'll always carry the key to Hell's gate."
All down by the greenwood sidey
The Cruel Mother was written by Traditional.