English (330KB)

The Cruel Mother

There are very many, many versions of this song of great antiquity. I know of English, Scottish and American versions. I have even heard the Kings Singers singing it on radio. The version I sing is taken from 80 English Folk Songs  collected by Cecil Sharp & Maud Karpeles during the years 1916 to 1918. I found this songbook in a second-hand bookshop in Auckland, New Zealand in 1994 and I suspect this proves something of immense importance.
"The Cruel Mother" has been recorded by:
 Geoff Grainger on "Ditty Box" 
 Steeleye Span on "Tempted And Tried" RealAudio
 Rebecca Pidgeon on "Four Marys" 
 Maddy Prior on "Flesh & Blood" 
 Frankie Armstrong on "Lovely on the Water"