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 in the sun 
So coal black grew the elder one 

knight came riding to the lady's door 
He'd travelled far to be their wooer 

He courted one with gloves and rings 
But loved the other above all things 

Oh sister will you go with me 
To watch the ships sail on the sea? 

She took her sister by the hand 
And led her down to the North Sea strand 

And as they stood on the windy shore 
The dark girl threw her sister o'er 

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam 
Crying sister reach to me your hand 

Oh sister, sister let me live 
And all that's mine I'll surely give 

It's your own [bad word] that I'll have and more 
But thou shalt [bad word] ashore 

And there she floated like a swan 
The salt sea bore her body on 

Two minstrels walked along the strand 
And saw the maiden float to land 

They made a harp of her breast bone 
Whose sound would melt a heart of stone 

They took three locks of her yellow hair 
And with them [bad word] the harp so rare 

They went into her father's hall 
To play the harp before them all 

But as they laid it on a stone 
The harp began to play alone 

The first string sang a doleful sound 
The bride her younger sister drowned 

The second string as that they tried 
In terror sits the black-haired bride 

The third string sang beneath their bow 
And surely now her tears will flow