Pentangle - Cruel Sister lyrics

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There lived a lady by the North Sea shore<br />

(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)<br />

Two daughters were the babes she bore<br />

(Fa la la la la la la la la la)<br />

<br />

<br />

Alternating with each of the lines below><br />

<br />

As one grew bright as is the sun, <br />

So coal black grew the elder one.<br />

<br />

A knight came riding to the lady's door, <br />

He'd travelled far to be their wooer.<br />

<br />

He courted one with gloves and rings, <br />

But he loved the other above all things.<br />

<br />

Oh sister will you go with me<br />

To watch the ships sail on the sea?<br />

<br />

She took her sister by the hand<br />

And led her down to the North Sea strand.<br />

<br />

And as they stood on the windy shore<br />

The dark girl threw her sister o'er.<br />

<br />

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam, <br />

Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand! <br />

<br />

"Oh Sister, Sister, let me live, <br />

And all that's mine I'll surely give."<br />

<br />

"(It's) your own true love that I'll have and more, <br />

But thou shalt never come ashore."<br />

<br />

And there she floated like a swan, <br />

The salt sea bore her body on.<br />

<br />

Two minstrels walked along the strand<br />

And saw the maiden float to land.<br />

<br />

They made a harp of her breastbone, <br />

Whose sound would melt a heart of stone.<br />

<br />

They took three locks of her yellow hair, <br />

And with them strung the harp so rare.<br />

<br />

They went into her father's hall<br />

To play the harp before them all, <br />

<br />

But when they laid it on a stone<br />

The harp began to play alone.<br />

<br />

The first string sang a doleful sound:<br />

"The bride her younger sister drowned."<br />

<br />

The second string as that they tried, <br />

In terror sits the black-haired bride.<br />

<br />

The third string sang beneath their bow, <br />

"And surely now her tears will flow