[Verse 1]
There lived a lady by the North Sea shore
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Twa dothers were the bairns she bore
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 2]
One was as bright as is the sun
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Sae coal black grew the elder one
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 3]
A knight came riding to the ladies' door
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
He travelled far tae be their wooer
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 4]
He courted one, aye wi gloves and rings
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
But he loved the other above all things
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 5]
"Sister, sister, won't you walk with me
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
And see the ships sail upon the sea?"
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa
[Verse 6]
And as they stood on that windy shore
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
The elder sister pushed the younger ower
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 7]
Sometimes she sank or sometimes she swam
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Cryin', "Sister, reach tae me your hand"
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 8]
And there she flowted just like a swan
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
The salt sea carried her body on
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 9]
Two minstrels walking by the North Sea strand
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
They saw the maiden, aye, flowt tae land
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 10]
They made a harp out of her breast bone
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
The sound of which would melt a heart of stone
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa
[Verse 11]
They took three locks of her yellow hair
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
And wi them strang that harp so rare
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 12]
The first string that those minstrels tried
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Then terror seized the black-haired bride
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 13]
The second string played a doleful sound
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
"The younger sister, oh, she is drowned,"
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa

[Verse 14]
The third string, it played beneath their bow
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
"And surely now, her tears will flow,"
Faa lala la la lala laa la laa