1
There lived a lady in the north sea shore,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Two daughters were the babes she bore.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
2
As one grew bright as in the sun,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
So coal black grew the elder one.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
3
A knight came riding to the lady's door,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
He'd travelled far to be their wooer.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
4
He courted one with gloves and rings,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
But loved the other above all things.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
5
“Oh sister will you go with me,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
To watch the ships sail on the sea?”
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
6
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 ralla la la la ra la la la.
7
And as they stood on the windy shore,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The dark girl threw her sister o'er .
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
8
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Crying: “Sister reach to me your hand”
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
9
“Oh sister, sister let me live,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And all that's mine I'll surely give.”
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
10
“It's your own truelove that I'll have and more,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
But thou shalt never come ashore.”
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.

11
And there she floated like a swan,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The salt sea bore her body on.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
12
Two minstrels walked along the strand,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
and saw the maiden float to land.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
13
They made a harp of her breast bone,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Whose sound would melt a heart of stone.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
14
They took three locks of her yellow hair,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And with them strung a harp so rare.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
15
They went into her father's hall,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
To play the harp before them all.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
16
But as they laid it on a stone,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The harp began to play alone.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
17
The first string sang a doleful sound,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The bride her younger sister drowned.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
18
The second string as that they tried,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
In terror sits the black-haired bride.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.
19
The third string sang beneath their bow ,
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And surely now her tears will flow.
Fa la ralla la la la ra la la la.