There was a lady lived in York All alone and alone-y She was courted by her father's clerk Down by the Greenwood Sidey He courted her for seven years long All alone and alone-y Till at last she proved in child by him Down by the Greenwood Sidey She bent her back against a tree All alone and alone-y And there she found great misery Down by the Greenwood Sidey She bent her back against a thorn All alone and alone-y And there she had two pretty babes born Down by the Greenwood Sidey She had a pen-knife long and sharp All alone and alone-y And she pressed it through their tender hearts Down by the Greenwood Sidey She digged a grave both wide and long All alone and alone-y And she buried them under a marble stone Down by the Greenwood Sidey And she was sat in her father's home All alone and alone-y When she saw two pretty babes playing at ball Down by the Greenwood Sidey Oh babes, oh babes if you were mine All alone and alone-y I would dress you up in scarlet fine Down by the Greenwood Sidey Oh mother, oh mother once we were thine All alone and alone-y And you did not dress us in scarlet fine Down by the Greenwood Sidey Oh babes, oh babes come tell to me All alone and alone-y If you know what your future means to me Down by the Greenwood Sidey Oh mother, mother you know right well All alone and alone-y 'Tis we for heaven, and you for Hell Down by the Greenwood Sidey