Alison Cross
Malinky Lyrics


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Alison Cross lives in yon tower
The ugliest witch in the north countrie
She's trysted me ae day 'til her bower
And mony's the braw spreech she made tae me

She showed me a mantle o reid scarlet
Weel wrocht wi gowd and fringes fine
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
This gudely gift, it shall be thine"

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

She showed me a sark o the saftest silk
Weel wrocht wi pearls abune the band
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
This gudely gift's at your command"

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

She showed me a cup o the gude reid gowd
Weel wrocht wi jewels sae fair and fine
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
This gudely gift, it shall be thine"

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

An' she's ta'en oot her grass-green horn
She blew it three times loud and shrill
She swore by the moon and the stars abune
She'd gar me rue the day I ever was born

An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
She straiked it three time o'er her knee
She's muttered sic words as my senses failed
I feel doon senseless tae the ground

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

It fell upon last Halloween
When the seely coort came riding by
The queen's lichtit doon on a gowany bank
Nae far fae the tree whaur I did lie

An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
She straked it three times o'er her knee
She's turned me back tae ma proper shape
Nae mare tae toddle aroond the tree

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be




Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Malinky's song "Alison Cross" tell the story of a man who visits the tower where Alison Cross, the "ugliest witch in the north countrie," lives. Despite her unattractive appearance, she tries to seduce him with various gifts, including a mantle, a silk shirt, and a cup made of gold and jewels. The man repeatedly rejects her advances, stating that he would rather "toddle aroond the tree" than kiss her "ugly mou."


Alison Cross then uses her magic to put a spell on the man, causing him to fall senseless to the ground. It is not until the Seely court (a group of fairies or supernatural beings) rides by on Halloween night that the man is turned back to his normal shape and released from the spell. Throughout the song, the man's rejection of Alison Cross's advances highlights the importance of consent and the idea that physical appearance should not be the sole determinant of attraction.


Overall, "Alison Cross" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring consent and using magic to try to manipulate others.


Line by Line Meaning

Alison Cross lives in yon tower
Alison Cross resides in that tall tower over there.


The ugliest witch in the north countrie
She is known as the most hideous sorceress in the north country.


She's trysted me ae day 'til her bower
One day she invited me to her private chamber.


And mony's the braw spreech she made tae me
She has often made flattering and charming speeches to me.


She showed me a mantle o reid scarlet
She presented me with a red cloak, intricately decorated with gold and fine fringes.


Weel wrocht wi gowd and fringes fine
It was crafted with care and skill, adorned with gold and delicate fringes.


Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
She proposed, "If you become my loyal lover


This gudely gift, it shall be thine"
this lovely gift shall be yours."


"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
"Go away, hideous witch


Haud far awa and let me be
keep your distance and leave me be.


Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I would rather dance around the tree


I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
than give you an affectionate peck on the cheek."


She showed me a sark o the saftest silk
She displayed a soft silk shirt,


Weel wrocht wi pearls abune the band
ornamented with pearls above the hem.


Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
She said, "If you become my loyal lover


This gudely gift's at your command"
this beautiful gift can be yours."


"An' she's ta'en oot her grass-green horn
"And she pulled out her grass-green horn


She blew it three times loud and shrill
and blew it three times, loud and sharp.


She swore by the moon and the stars abune
She swore by the moon and stars above


She'd gar me rue the day I ever was born
that I would regret the day I was born.


An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
Next, she took out her silver wand


She straiked it three time o'er her knee
and ran it over her knee three times,


She's muttered sic words as my senses failed
while muttering some words that left me dizzy and disoriented.


I feel doon senseless tae the ground"
I fell down unconscious onto the ground."


"It fell upon last Halloween
"On the last Halloween


When the seely coort came riding by
when the fairy court came riding past,


The queen's lichtit doon on a gowany bank
the queen landed down on a flower-covered bank,


Nae far fae the tree whaur I did lie"
not too far from where I lay beneath the tree."


An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
She pulled out her silver wand once again


She straked it three times o'er her knee
and ran it over her knee three more times,


She's turned me back tae ma proper shape
causing me to revert to my natural form,


Nae mare tae toddle aroond the tree"
and no longer having to dance around the tree."


"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
"Go away, hideous witch


Haud far awa and let me be
keep your distance and leave me be.


Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I would rather dance around the tree


I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
than give you an affectionate peck on the cheek."




Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Cam

Absolutely love this.

SilverWolfMoon

Thank you for the details :) I'm familiar with Folk-Rock & Scottish / Irish Folk versions of several Child Ballads, such as 'The Cruel Sister', 'The Twa Corbies', 'The Unquiet Grave', 'The False Night on the Road', 'Edward', 'Willie's Lady', 'The Bonnie Banks o Fordie', 'Tam Lin', 'The Laily Worm', 'The Twa Magaicians', 'Sir Patrick Spens', 'The Bonny Earl of Moray', 'Gypsy Davey', 'Geordie', 'The Dowie Dens of Yarrow', mostly by Old Blind Dogs and such...

oneoflokis

I like Steeleye Span, myself! 🙂👍

oneoflokis

This is a really nice version of Alison GROSS, as I happen to know of the song! 🙂👍

SilverWolfMoon

Another common one is 'The Cruel Sister' ~ as done by Pentangle, and Old Blind Dogs. It's also known as 'The Two Sisters' {Clannad}, and 'The Bonny Swans' {Loreena McKennitt}, each with differing lyrics, but the same basic story.

oneoflokis

Good, innit?! 🙂👍

jennienimhaoil

Beautiful!!

Carol Cripps

It could be a local variation on the name. Katherine Briggs, in her "British Folk Tales and Legends: A Sampler" lists it as Alison Gross. She also has the man's sister Maisry tending the worm every Saturday night, washing its head in a silver basin and combing it with a silver comb, until the Faerie queen reverses the spell on Hallowe'en. Obviously an old tale/song, with many variations.

Алексей Щуров

That's a bit other version from Child's collection 'A Lially Worm and A Mackrel of the Sea'. Many critics also regard it as a parallel to 'Alison Gross'. The creual step-mother turns a step-son into an ugly worm (maybe a dragon for he slayed 7 knights) and a step-daughter into a mackrel who combs her brother's head in some way. The father hears the story and makes the witch to turn the worm back into a youth. But the sister turned so scared that she prefers to remain a sea-fish. Of course, the wicked lady was burnt to ashes.

Josh Robinson

I'm in love with your accent. 

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