The Mother's Malison or Clyde's Water (Child 216, Roud 91) is an English-language folk song.

Synopsis

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Willie, against his mother's advice, goes to May Margaret's home, where he is not admitted. He drowns in the Clyde. May Margaret wakes and says she dreamed of him. Her mother tells her that he had been there half an hour before. She goes after him and likewise drowns.

Recordings

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Following are some of the notable recordings of the ballad, including their artists, titles, albums, and years:

Artist Title Album Year
Atwater & Donnelly "Drowned Lovers" And Then I'm Going Home 2001
Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick "Clyde's Water" Skin & Bone 1992
Nic Jones "The Drowned Lovers" Penguin Eggs 1980
Sean Lakeman & Kathryn Roberts "The Drowned Lovers" Sean Lakeman/Kathryn Roberts 2002
Ewan MacColl "Clyde's Water" Ballads: Murder Intrigue Love Discord 2010
Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer "Clyde Waters (Child 216)" Child Ballads 2013
Stanley Robertson "The Clattering of Clyde Waters" Voice of the People, Vol. 6: O'er His Grave the Grass Grew Green 1999
Kate Rusby "The Drowned Lovers" Hourglass 1998
John Strachan "Clyde's Water" Classic Ballads of Britain and Ireland, Vol. 2 2000

See also

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