There were two sisters: night and death
The latter taller than the former
Night was beautiful like a dream and death
Death was the even fairer one
Night was beautiful like a dream and death
Death was the even fairer one
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
Death was the even fairer one
Both sisters worked as maids
In an inn by a little river
A traveller has arrived and says: Hey!
Wait on me, my fair ladies
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
Wait on me, my fair ladies
So runs night gently up to him
You know, the little one, the wiser one
She pours, the guest looks in the glass:
Ah, what a worthy cordial, he says
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
Ah, what a worthy cordial, he says
But here is death running up
With an even gentler pace
The traveller – smack! The goblet – twang!
For this was the worthier one
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
For this was the worthier one
The traveller drained the cup
And felt no further need to talk
Seeing how the other sister wears
Way lovelier earrings
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
Way lovelier earrings
Such a ballad on a rainy day
In Three Crowns Tavern
Was sang to me – there in Dublin once
By John Burton – a John above other Johns
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
By John Burton – a John above other Johns
Dublin is a ballads' fair
You'll catch more than one there
Thus what I heard there once
I'm repeating now to Cracow
Hey noony noony! Hay noony nah!
I'm repeating now to Cracow