The Cruel Sister

There lived a lady by the North Sea shore

Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom

Twa daughters were the bairns she bore

Fa la la la la la la la la la

One was as bright as is the sun

Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom

Sae 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 bairn tae the bonnie broom

He travelled far to be their wooer

Fa la la la la la la la la la

He courted one, aye with gloves and rings

Lay the bairn 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 bairn tae the bonnie broom

An' see the ships sail upon sea?"

Fa la la la la la la la la la

And as they stood on that windy shore

Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom

The elder sister pushed the younger o'er

Fa la la la la la la la la la

Sometimes she sank or sometimes she swam

Lay the bairn 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 bairn tae the bonnie broom

The salt sea carried her body on

Fa la la la la la la la la la

Two minstrels walking by the north sea strand

Lay the bairn 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 bairn 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 bairn tae the bonnie broom

And wi' them strung that harp so rare

Fa la la la la la la la la la

The first string that those minstrels tried

Lay the bairn 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 bairn 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 bairn tae the bonnie broom

"And surely now her tears will flow"

Fa la la la la la la la la la