The cruel sister by Ceoltoiri

There was a lady by the North Sea shore
Two daughters were the babes she bore
As one grew fair as in the sun
So cold and dark, grew the elder one

A knight came riding to their door
-Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
He 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, sister won't you walk with me
-Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And we will watch the ships sail o'er sea"
-Fa la la la la la la la la la


And as they walked the windy shore
-Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The dark girl pushed her sister o'er
-Fa la la la la la la la la la


Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam
Crying "Sister, reach to me your hand
Oh sister, sister please let me live
And all that's mine I'll surely give"

"It's your own true love I should have, and more
That thou shalt never come ashore"
And as she floated like a swan
The salt sea bore her body on

Two minstrels walked by the windy strand
-Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And watch her body float to land
-Fa la la la la la la la la la


They made a harp of her breast bone
Who's sound would melt a heart of stone
They took three strands of her golden hair
And with them strung this harp so rare

They took this harp to her father's hall
To play the harp before them all
But when they set the harp upon a stone
The harp began to play alone

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, when this they tried
-Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
In terror sits the dark 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 now her last tears will surely flow"
-Fa la la la la la la la la la