The Mother's Malison


The Mother's Malison or Clyde's Water is Child ballad number 216, Roud 91.

Synopsis

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

Following are some of the notable recordings of the ballad, including their artists, titles, albums, and years:
ArtistTitleAlbumYear
Atwater & Donnelly"Drowned Lovers"And Then I'm Going Home2001
Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick"Clyde's Water"Skin & Bone1992
Nic Jones"The Drowned Lovers"Penguin Eggs1980
Sean Lakeman & Kathryn Roberts"The Drowned Lovers"Sean Lakeman/Kathryn Roberts2002
Ewan MacColl"Clyde's Water"Ballads: Murder Intrigue Love Discord2010
Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer"Clyde Waters "Child Ballads2013
Stanley Robertson"The Clattering of Clyde Waters"Voice of the People, Vol. 6: O'er His Grave the Grass Grew Green1999
Kate Rusby"The Drowned Lovers"Hourglass1998
John Strachan"Clyde's Water"Classic Ballads of Britain and Ireland, Vol. 22000