Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Verse 3]
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
[Verse 4]
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
[Verse 5]
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
[Verse 6]
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
[Verse 7]
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
[Verse 8]
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
[Verse 9]
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
[Verse 10]
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
[Verse 11]
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
[Verse 12]
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
[Verse 13]
They've 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
[Verse 14]
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
[Verse 15]
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
[Verse 16]
But as they laid it on the stone
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The harp began to play alone
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
[Verse 17]
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
[Verse 18]
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
[Verse 19]
The third string sand 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
Written by: Traditional
