Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Old Blind Dogs > Live > The Cruel Sister

The Cruel Sister     Credits: Traditional; arranged by Old Blind Dogs     Appears On: Close To The Bone; Live     Language: Scots-English     Other Versions: "The Wind And Rain" on Altan's album Local Ground "Two Sisters" on Clannad's album Dúlamán "The Bonny Swans" on Loreena McKennitt's album The Mask And Mirror "The Wicked Sister" on Méav's album Silver Sea

Lyrics:

There lived a lady by the north sea shore
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Twa daughters were the bairns she bore
Fa la la la la la la la la la

One was as bright as is the sun
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Sae coal black grew the elder one
Fa la la la la la la la la la

A knight came riding to the ladies' door
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
He travelled far to be their wooer
Fa la la la la la la la la la

He courted one there with gloves and rings
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
But he loved the other above all things
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Oh sister, sister won't you walk with me
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
An' see the ships sail upon sea?"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

As they stood on that windy shore
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
The elder sister pushed the younger o'er
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Sometimes she sank there, sometimes she swam
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

There she floated just like a swan
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
The salt sea carried her body on
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Two minstrels walking by the north sea strand
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
They saw the maiden, oh float to land
Fa la la la la la la la la la

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
Fa la la la la la la la la la

They took three locks of her yellow hair
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
And wi' them strung that harp so rare
Fa la la la la la la la la la

They took it up into her father's halls
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
To play the harp before them all
Fa la la la la la la la la la

They placed the harp upon a stone
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
And it began to play alone
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The first string, it made a doleful sound
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
"The younger sister, oh she is drowned"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The second string that those minstrels tried
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
Then terror seized the black-haired bride
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The third string, it played beneath their bow
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom
"And surely now her tears will flow"
Fa la la la la la la la la la