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,
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 he 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] love 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.