Two young sisters three years apart
The elder held the younger’s heart
The bonnie oak sways in the breeze
And I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me

Last night the younger begin to sing
Sister, sister, look at this ring
Bow bow and balance me
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me

The two young sisters then left home
To walk the shore and climb jetty stones
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Gossip on the would-be groom

The elder stood by the younger’s side
And pushed her into the rising tide
She waited a while twirling her dark hair
Until she could not see her sister fair
And the bonnie blonde no longer screamed
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me

She picked up shells from the sand
Dreaming about her sister’s man
“How could she steal his hand?
I’ll have him and all his land”
She worked up tears before the door
She said her sister ran to the shore
The family walked into the town
Search parties formed, but nothing found
The elder smiled, “boys are born for me”
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me
A few months later the miller’s son
Came across some beached, bleached bones
And thought he heart a whispering
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me

He looked down and saw the gleam
Reflecting off his grandma’s ring
He took his find to the luthier’s home
To craft something from the hairs and bones
An odd request, but out of love
The bones, neck and body, and the hair was strung
The miller’s son soon came to see
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me

He strummed all night and picked all day
And listened to what she had to say
“My dark haired sister pushed me in
My beloved sister laughed and grinned
Jealous of my betrothed
She wanted him all for her own”
So he took her to the courthouse hall
And gathered up the judges all
He placed her high up on a shelf
It began to play herself
The same story it did repeat
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me
They gathered by the lynching tree
The whole town had come to see
And listen to what it had said
As the dark haired sister boiled in lead
The miller’s son hit his knees
As held his love as tears streamed
The building shook as he screamed
I’ll be true to my love if my love will be true to me