The Twa Sisters, or The Cruel Sister
GLI EXTRA DELLE CCG / AWS EXTRAS / LES EXTRAS DES CCG| Original | La versione incisa dai Pentangle |
| THE TWA SISTERS, OR THE CRUEL SISTER There was twa sisters in a bow’r, Edinburgh, Edinburgh There was twa sisters in a bow’r Stirling for ay There came a knight to be their wooer. Bonie Saint Johnston stands upon Tay He courted the eldest wi’ glove and ring But he lovd the youngest above a' thing. He courted the eldest wi’ brotch an knife But he lov’d the youngest as his life. The eldest she was vexed sair, An much envi’d her sister fair. Into her bow’r she could not rest, Wi’ grief an’ spite she almos’ brast. Upon a morning fair an’ clear She cried upon her sister dear: "O sister, come to yon sea stran’ An see our father's ships come to lan’." She’s taen her by the milk-white han’ An led her down to yon sea-stran’. The younges’ stood upon a stane, The eldest cam an’ threw her in. She tooke her by the middle sma’ An’ dashed her bonny back to the jaw. "O sister, sister, tak my han’, An I’se mack you heir to a’ my lan’. "O sister, sister, tak’ my middle, An’ ye’s get my goud and my gouden girdle. O sister, sister, save my life, An’ I swear I’se nair be nae man’s wife." "Foul fa’ the han’ that I should tacke, It twin’d me an my wardles make. Your cherry cheeks an’ yallow hair Gars me gae maiden for evermair." Sometimes she sank, an’ sometimes she swam Till she came down to yon bonny mill-dam. O out it came the miller's son An’ saw the fair maiden swimmin’ in. "O father, father, draw your dam, Here's either a mermaid or a swan." The miller quickly drew the dam, An’ there he found a drown’d womàn. You cou’dna see her yallow hair For gold and pearle that were so rare. You cou’dna see her middle sma’ For gouden girdle that was sae braw. You cou’dna see her fingers white For gouden rings that were sae gryte. An’ by ther came this harper fine That harped to the king at dine. When he did look that lady upon He sigh’d and made a heavy moan. [He made a harp of her breast-bone Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone] He's taen three locks o’ her yallow hair An wi' them strung his harp sae fair. [But as he laid it upon a stane The harp began to play alane.] The first tune he did play and sing Was, Farewell to my father the king. The nextin tune that he play’d syne Was, Farewell to my mother the queen. The lasten tune he play’d then, Was, Wae to my sister, fair Ellen. | CRUEL SISTER There lived a lady by the North Sea shore Lay the bent to the bonnie broom Two daughters were the babes she bore Fa la la la la la la la la la As one grew bright as is the sun Lay the bent to the bonnie broom So coal black grew the elder one Fa la la la la la la la la la A knight came riding to the lady's door Lay the bent to the bonnie broom He'd traveled far to be their wooer Fa la la la la la la la la la He courted one with gloves and rings Lay the bent to the bonnie broom But he loved the other above all things Fa la la la la la la la la la Oh, sister will you go with me Lay the bent to the bonnie broom To watch the ships sail on the sea? Fa la la la la la la la la la She took her sister by the hand Lay the bent to the bonnie broom And led her down to the North Sea strand Fa la la la la la la la la la And as they stood on the windy shore Lay the bent to the bonnie broom The dark girl threw her sister over Fa la la la la la la la la la Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam Lay the bent to the bonnie broom Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand" Fa la la la la la la la la la Oh sister, sister, let me live Lay the bent to the bonnie broom And all that's mine I'll surely give Fa la la la la la la la la la Your own true love that I'll have and more Lay the bent to the bonnie broom But thou shalt never come ashore Fa la la la la la la la la la And there she floated like a swan Lay the bent to the bonnie broom The salt sea bore her body on Fa la la la la la la la la la Two minstrels walked along the strand Lay the bent to the bonnie broom And saw the maiden float to land Fa la la la la la la la la la They made a harp of her breastbone Lay the bent to the bonnie broom Whose sound 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 bent to the bonnie broom And with them strung the harp so rare Fa la la la la la la la la la They went into her father's hall Lay the bent to the bonnie broom To play the harp before them all Fa la la la la la la la la la But when they laid it on a stone Lay the bent to the bonnie broom The harp began to play alone Fa la la la la la la la la la The first string sang a doleful sound Lay the bent to the bonnie broom The bride her younger sister drowned Fa la la la la la la la la la The second string as that they tried Lay the bent to the bonnie broom In terror sits the black-haired bride Fa la la la la la la la la la The third string sang beneath their bow Lay the bent to the bonnie broom And surely now her tears will flow. Fa la la la la la la la la la |
