| Scots |
|---|
| 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 |
The Cruel Sister
Traditional
Arranged by Old Blind Dogs
As recorded by Old Blind Dogs on Close to the Bone