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I originally heard this variant of the song from Tania Opland trad, adapted by David C. WebbI originally heard this variant of the song from Tania Opland www.taniaopland.com and fell in love with it. It is by far my favorite version of the story as well as of the tune.

lyrics

There lived a lady by the North Sea shore,

Two daughters were the babes she bore.

One grew as fair as in the sun

So coal dark grew the elder one.



A knight came riding to the lady's door;

He travelled far to be their wooer.

He courted one with gloves and rings

But the other he loved above all things.



"Oh sister, sister, won't you walk with me

To see the ships sail o'er the sea?"

And as they walked the windy shore

The dark girl pushed her sister o'er.



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 that I want, 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

They saw her body float to land

They made a harp of her breastbone

Whose sound would melt a heart of stone.



They took three strands of her yellow hair

And with them strung this harp so rare.

They took this harp to her father's hall

There to play before them all.



But when they set the harp upon a stone

It began to play alone.

The first string sang a doleful sound:

"The bride her younger sister drowned."



The second string, when this they tried:

"In terror sits the black-haired bride."

The third string sang beneath their bow:

"And now her tears will surely flow."



There lived a lady by the North Sea shore,

Two daughters were the babes she bore.

One grew as fair as in the sun

So coal dark grew the elder one.

credits



Shanti Singleton: Vocals

Jeri Lynn Cornish: Cello and backing vocals

Dara Korra'ti: engineering

Recorded live in studio at Criminal Studios from Roses and Ruin , track released November 7, 2012Shanti Singleton: VocalsJeri Lynn Cornish: Cello and backing vocalsDara Korra'ti: engineeringRecorded live in studio at Criminal Studios

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