Bluegrass Messengers

The Cruel Mother- Roast (NS) 1950 Creighton D

[From Creighton and Senior, Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia, 1950. Creighton's notes follow.

R. Matteson 2014]

The Cruel Mother
[ Child 20 ]

While these are interesting variants, by far the most complete one I have found anywhere is in S.B.N.S., p.3, where two superstitions regarding the incriminating penknife are given: (a) the more she rubbed the blood was seen, and (b) the farther she threw it the nearer it came. It also has the seven-year penances. Since it was published Mr. Henneberry, the singer, added another stanza, which should follow verse 6:

"She buried them under a marble stone,
Now she says I will be home."

In the variants published here note particularly A, verse 4, and B, verse 4.
English texts: Roberts, p.495 Novello's Schoo| Songs, Book 261; Sharp's English Folk-songs, vol. 1, p.35; Williams, p.94; Journal, vol.2, p. 10, and vol.3, p.70.
American texts: Cox, pp.211,30; Davis, pp. 133-186; Fuson, p. 59 [This is a version of Child 79]; Sharp, I, p.56ff.; Mackenzie, p.12; Gerould, pp.50, 63, 140, 141, r1z,155; T.F.S.N.S., with Mr. Henneberry's words and the melody as sung by Mrs. John Smith, A; Barry, pp.80-93; Scarborough, pp. 169-171.
Newfoundland TEXTS: Karpeles, vol. I; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 15.
Library of Congress recordings: Mrs. Dunean, Mr. Ben Henneberry and Nina Bartley Finn.

Cruel Mother [D] Sung by Mr. John Roast, Chezzelcook.

Allegretto
[music]

She said "Pret- ty maids if you were mine
All a-lone and a lo-ney - o,
I would dress you up in silks so fine
Down by the greenwood siding.