What Put the Blood?

[Verse 1]

Where have you been all the long summer's day?

Son, come tell it unto me

I've been huntin' and fowlin' all the long whole day

And it's mama pardon me-oh, and it's mama pardon me

[Verse 2]

And what put the blood on your right shoulder?

Son, come tell it unto me

Oh, that is the blood of the hare I caught

That I killed most manfully-oh, that I killed most manfully

[Verse 3]

Oh, the blood of the hare now it could never be so red

Son, come and tell it unto me

Oh, that is the blood of my youngest brother

That I killed most brutally-oh, that I killed most brutally

[Verse 4]

Oh, what came between you and your brother?

Son, come and tell it unto me

It was mostly about that cutting of a rod

That will never grow into a tree-oh, that will never grow into a tree

[Verse 5]

Then what will ya do when your father comes home?

Son, come tell it unto me

I will put my foot on board of a ship

And I'll sail for a foreign country-oh, and I'll sail for a foreign country

[Verse 6]

Then what will become of your own dear wife?

Son, come tell it unto me

I will leave her there in her grief and despair

And she'll see no more of me-oh, and she'll see no more of me

[Verse 7]

And what will ya do with your two fine babes?

Son, come tell it unto me

I'll give one to me father and the other to you mother

For to keep yis company-oh, for to keep yis company

[Verse 8]

And what will you do with your two greyhounds?

Son, come tell it unto me

I will take the straps from around their necks

And they'll race no more for me-oh, and they'll race no more for me

[Verse 9]

What will become of your houses and your land?

Son, come and tell it unto me

I will leave them there for the birds all in the air

There'll be no more welcomes there for me-oh, and there'll be no more welcomes there for me