Cruel Sister

C- B♭ C- G-
 3    

 4               
   
 

6 A♭Δ B♭ G- C-
 
       
   
             

There lived a lady by the North Sea shore Two minstrels walked by the windy strand
Two daughters were the babes she bore They saw her body float to land
One grew as bright as the sun They made a harp of her breast bone
So cold, dark, grew the elder one Who's sound would melt a heart of stone

A knight came riding to the ladies' door They took three strands of her yellow hair
He travelled far to be their wooer And with them strung this harp so rare
He courted one with gloves and rings They took this harp to her father's hall
But the other he loved above all things There to play before them all

"Oh, sister, sister won't you walk with me But when they set the harp upon a stone
To see the ships sail o'er sea" It began to play alone
And as they walked the windy shore The first song sang a doleful sound
The dark girl pushed her sister o'er "The bride her younger sister drowned"

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam The second string, when this they tried
Crying "Sister, reach to me your hand In terror sits the black haired bride
Oh sister, sister please let me live The third string sang beneath their bow
And all that's mine I'll surely give "And now her tears will surely flow"

"It's your own true love I want, and more

That thou shalt never come ashore"
And as she floated like a swan
The salt sea bore her body on