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