Who Put The Blood

Where have you been all along summer's day?
Son, tell it unto me
A-fishing and a-fowling in the fields and in the forest
Weary mother, let me be
Weary mother, let me be.

Who put the blood on your right shoulder?
Son, tell it unto me
It's the blood of a hare that I killed yesterday
I killed most manfully
I killed most manfully.

The blood of a hare, it would never be so red
Son, tell it unto me
It's the blood of a boy that I killed yesterday
I killed most manfully
Oh I killed most manfully.

What was between yourself and the boy?
Son, tell it unto me
'Twas mostly the cutting down of a rod
That never would come to a tree
Oh it never would come to a tree.

What will you do when your daddy finds out?
Son, tell it unto me
I will put my foot on board of a ship and sail away
Sail to a foreign country
Sail to a foreign country.

What will you do with your lovely wedded wife?
Son, tell it unto me
She can put her foot on board of a ship and follow me
Follow after me
Follow after me.

What will you do with your two fine babes?
Son, tell it unto me
I'll give one to my father and the other to my mother
To keep them company
Oh to keep them company.

What will you do with your house and your lands?
Son, tell it unto me
I will lay them bare to the birds and the air
There's no more welcome for me
Oh there's no more welcome for me.

What will you do in the winter of your life?
Son, tell it unto me
Like a sally in the rock, I will bend in the wind
And pray for the gods' mercy
Oh and pray for the gods' mercy...