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,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
So coal black grew the elder one
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

A knight came riding to the lady's door,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
He'd travelled far to be their wooer.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

He courted one with gloves and rings,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
But he loved the other above all things.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

Oh sister will you go with me
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
To watch the ships sail on the sea?
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

She took her sister by the hand
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And led her down to the North Sea strand
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
And as they stood on the windy shore
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
The dark girl threw her sister o'er.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand!
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

"Oh Sister, Sister, let me live,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And all that's mine I'll surely give."
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

"(It's) your own true love that I'll have and more,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
But thou shalt never come ashore."
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

And there she floated like a swan,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
The salt sea bore her body on.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

Two minstrels walked along the strand
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And saw the maiden float to land.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
They made a harp of her breastbone,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
Whose sound would melt a heart of stone.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

They took three locks of her yellow hair,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And with them strung the harp so rare.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

They went into her father's hall
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
To play the harp before them all,
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

But when they laid it on a stone
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
The harp began to play alone.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

The first string sang a doleful sound:
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
"The bride her younger sister drowned."
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)

The second string as that they tried,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
In terror sits the black-haired bride.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
The third string sang beneath their bow,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
"And surely now her tears will flow
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)