The Mother's Malison or Clyde's Water (Child 216, Roud 91) is an English-language folk song.
Synopsis Willie, against his mother's wishes, goes to May Margaret's home, where he is not let in. On his way back home, 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
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 List of the Child Ballads The Lass of Roch Royal
External links Several variants