Too long have your tears dripped down like dew,
One with another.
For a knight that my sire and my brethren slew,
Mother, my mother.
Let past things perish and dead griefs lie,
One with another.
O fain would I weep not, and fain would I die,
Mother, my mother.
Fair gifts we give ye, to laugh and live,
One with another.
But sair and strange are the gifts I give,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give for your father's love?
One with another.
Fruits full few and thorns enough,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give for your mother's sake?
One with another.
Tears to brew and tares to bake,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give your sister Jean?
One with another.
A bier to build and a babe to wean,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give your sister Nell?
One with another.
The end of life and beginning of hell,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give your sister Kate?
One with another.
Earth's door and hell's gate,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give your brother Will?
One with another.
Life's grief and world's ill,
Mother, my mother.
And what will ye give your brother Hugh?
One with another.
A bed of turf to turn into,
Mother, my mother.