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Mary Arnold the Female Monster

from Bastard Man of Ruin by H. J. Doom

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about

This is an original murder ballad published in 1843 by John Morgan. No musical arrangement survives. Although the lurid crime was presented as a true story there is no evidence of anyone called Mary Arnold being prosecuted for the heinous acts described in the song.

lyrics

Of all the tales was ever told,
I now will one impart,
That cannot fail to terror strike,
In every human heart,
The deeds of Mary Arnold, who
Does in a jail deplore
Oh such a dreadful tale as this,
Was never told before.

Chorus

This wretched woman's dreadful deed,
Does everyone afright,
With beetles placed in walnut shells,
She robbed her child of sight.

Now think you tender parents all,
What must this monster feel,
The heart within her breast must ten,
Times harder be than steel,
The dreadful crime she did commit,
Does all the world surprise,
Black beetles placed in walnut shells,
Bound round her infant's eyes.

The beetles in a walnut shell,
This monster she did place,
This dreadful deed, as we may read,
All history does disgrace,
The walnut shells and beetles with,
A bandage she bound tight,
Around her infant's tender eyes,
To take away its sight.

A lady saw this monster in,
The street while passing by,
And she was struck with terror for,
To hear the infant cry,
The infant's face she swore to see,
It filled her with surprise,
To see the fatal bandage tied,
Around the infant's eyes.

With speed she called an officer,
Oh shocking to relate,
Beheld the deed and took the wretch,
Before the magistrate,
He said that she must face a trial,
Which did the wretch displease,
And she is now transported ten,
Long years across the seas.

Is there another in the world,
Could plan such wicked deed?
No-one upon this Earth before,
Of such did ever see,
To take away her infant's sight,
'Tis horrible to tell,
To bind black beetles round its eyes,
Placed in walnut shells.

credits

from Bastard Man of Ruin, released August 23, 2022
Lyrics by John Morgan, 1843
Music by H. J. Doom

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