She leaned herself against an oak

All alone and aloney

At first it bent and then it broke

Down by the green wood side



She leaned herself against a thorn

All alone and aloney

And there she had two fine babes born

Down by the green wood side



She pulled out her snow white breast

All alone and aloney

She bid them a-suck for it would be the last

Down by the green wood side



She pulled down her yellow hair

All alone and aloney

And she bound it around their little hands and feet

Down by the green wood side



She pulled out her little penknife

All alone and aloney

And she pierced all in their little tender hearts

Down by the green wood side



She was sitting in her father’s hall

All alone and aloney

She saw her babes a playing with their ball

Down by the green wood side



Oh babes O babes if you were mine

All alone and aloney

I would dress you in the silk so fine

Down by the green wood side



O mother O mother when we were thine

All alone and aloney

You neither dressed us in the course silk nor fine

Down by the green wood side