Riddles Wisely Expounded [Child Ballad #1] lyrics

There were three sisters in the north

(Lay the bend to the bonny broom)

And they lived in their mother’s house

(And you’ll beguile a lady soon)

There came a man one evening late

(Lay the bend…)

And he came knocking at the gate

(And you’ll beguile…)

The eldest sister let him in

And locked the door with a silver pin

The second sister made his bed

And laid soft pillows ‘neath his head

The youngest sister, fair and bright

She lay beside him all through the night

And in the morning, come the day

She said, “Young man, will you marry me?”

And he said, “Yes, I’ll marry thee

If you can answer this to me”

“What is greener than the grass?

And what is smoother than the glass?”

“What is louder than a horn?

And what is sharper than a thorn?”

“What is deeper than the sea?

And what is longer than the way?”

“Envy’s greener than the grass

Flattery’s smoother than the glass”

“Rumor’s louder than a horn

Slander’s sharper than a thorn”

“Regret is deeper than the sea

But love is longer than the way”

The eldest sister rang the bell

She rang it from the highest hill

The second sister made the gown

She sewed it of the silk so fine

The youngest sister, true and wise

They’ve made of her a lovely bride

And now fair maids, I bid adieu

These parting words I’ll leave with you

May you always constant prove

Unto the one that you do love