The Cruel Sister

There lived a lady by the north sea shore Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom Twa daughters were the barns she born Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la One was as bright as is the sun Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom Saw coal black grew the elder one Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la A knight came riding to the ladies' door Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom He travelled far to be their woer Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la He courted one hand with gloves and rings Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom But he loved the other above all things Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la Sister, sister won't you walk with me Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom And see the ships sail upon the sea Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la And as they stood on that windy shore Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom The elder sister pushed the younger over Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la Sometimes she sank or sometimes she swam Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand" Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la And there she floated just like a swan Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom The salt sea carried her body on Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la Two minister are walking by the north sea strand Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom They saw the maiden, aye float to land Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la They made a harp out of her breast bone Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom The sound of which would melt a heart of stone Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la They took three locks of her yellow hair Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom And with them strung that harp so rare Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la The string that those minister tried Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom Then terror seized the black haired bride Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la The second string played a doleful sound Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom The younger sister, oh, she is drowned Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la The third string, it played beneath their bow Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom And surely now her tears will flow Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la