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