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 traveled 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 over 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 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