They lived a lady by the North Sea shore
(Lay the bent tae the bonnie broom)
Twa daughters were the babes she bore
(Falalalalalalalalala).
One was as bright as is the sun
So coal black grew the elder one.
A knight came riding to the lady's door
He travelled far to be their wooer.
He courted one a-with gloves and rings
But he loved the other above all things.
Sister, sister won't you walk with me
And see the ships sail on the sea.
And as they stood on that windy shore
The black girl pushed the younger o'er.
Sometimes she sank and sometimes she swam
Crying sister reach to me your hand.
And there she floated just like a swan
The salt sea carried her body on.
Two minstrels walking by the North Sea strand
They saw the maiden a-float to land.
They made a harp out of her breast bone
The sound of which would melt a heart of stone.
They took three locks of her yellow hair
Then with them strung the harp so rare.
And as they laid her on a stone
The harp began to play alone.
The first string as that they tried
Then terror seized the black-haired bride.
The second string played a doleful sound
The younger sister she is drowned.
The third string it played beneath their bow
And surely now her tears will flow.