The Cruel Sister Songtext
von Old Blind Dogs

There lived a lady by the north sea shore
Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom
Twa daughters were the barns she born

Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la

One was as bright as is the sun
Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom
Saw 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 barn tae the bonnie broom
He travelled far to be their woer

Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la

He courted one hand with gloves and rings
Lay the barn 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 barn tae the bonnie broom
And see the ships sail upon the sea


Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la

And as they stood on that windy shore
Lay the barn tae the bonnie broom
The elder sister pushed the younger over

Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la

Sometimes she sank or sometimes she swam
Lay the barn 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 barn tae the bonnie broom
The salt sea carried her body on

Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la

Two minister are walking by the north sea strand
Lay the barn 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 barn 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 barn tae the bonnie broom
And with them strung that harp so rare

Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la

The string that those minister tried
Lay the barn 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 barn 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 barn tae the bonnie broom
And surely now her tears will flow

Fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-la