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?

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

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

Your own [bad word] love 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 breastbone
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 when 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.