e D
There lived a lady by the North Sea shore
e D e
(Lay the bent tae the bonnie broom)
D b
Twa daughters were the babes she bore.
C
D e
(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.