F Dm
And three little babes had she
She sent them away, to a far country
Gm A Dm
To learn their grammerie
[Verse 2]
N.C. Dm
They hadn't been gone but a very short time
F Dm
About three months and a day
When the lark spread o'er this whole wide world
Gm A Dm
And taken those babes away
[Verse 3]
N.C. Dm
It was on a cold, cold Christmas night
F Dm
When everything was still
And she saw her three little babes come running
Gm A Dm
Come running down the hill
[Verse 4]
N.C. Dm
She set them a table of bread and wine
F Dm
That they might drink and eat;
She spread them a bed of winding sheet
Gm A Dm
That they might sleep so sweet
[Verse 5]
N.C. Dm
"Take it off, take it off," cried the eldest one;
F Dm
"Take it off, take it off," cried she
"For I shan't stay here, in this wicked world
Gm A Dm
When there's a better one for me."
[Verse 6]
N.C. Dm
"Cold clods, cold clods, inside my bed
F Dm
Cold clods, down at my feet
The tears my dear mother shed for me
Gm A Dm
Would wet my winding sheet."
[Outro]
"The tears my dear mother shed for me
Gm A Dm
Would wet my winding sheet.
Gm A Dm
Would wet my winding sheet."
