The Cruel Mother chords by Steeleye Span

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Difficulty: Novice

Intro:
Em  A  G  A
Em  A  G  A

Verse:
      Em                        A
There was a lady lived in York
    G                              A
She stabbed her baby to the heart
     Em                             A
She drew a scarf from off her head
    G                                A
She bound the baby's hands and legs

Verse:
    Em                            A
She drew a knife, long and sharp
    G                              A
She stabbed the baby to the heart
    Em                              A
She wiped the knife upon the grass
    G                                   A
The more she wiped, the blood ran fast

Verse:
   Em                                  A
As she was going to her father's hall
    G                                   A
She saw three children playing at ball
Em                               A
One in silk, the other in satin
    G                                 A
The other was naked as ever was born

Verse:
 Em                                A
"Oh, dear child, if you were mine
    G                                     A
I'd dress you in silk and satins so fine"
     Em                             A
"Oh, mother dear, I once was thine
    G                                     A
You never would dress me, coarse or fine"

Instrumental:
B  Em  B  A
B  Em  B  A
B  Em  B  A

Verse:
 Em                             A
"Mother, mother, for your sins
G                           A
Heaven you shall not enter
Em                                A
There is fire beyond Hell's gate
    G                          A
And there you'll burn forever"