The Bitter Withy or Mary Mild (Roud #452) is an English folk song reflecting an unusual and apocryphal vernacular idea of Jesus Christ.
The withy of the title is the Willow and the song gives an explanation as to why the willow tree rots from the centre out, rather than the outside in.
The song was recorded by The Kingston Trio on their album The Last Month of the Year.
English folk artist John Tams recorded the song on his album The Reckoning (2005; won 2006 the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for the 'Best Album') and is contained in The Definitive Collection (2007) also.
This folk song–related article is a stub.