Two Sisters

Two Sisters
Emily Portman: voice. Rachel Newton: voice & harp. Trad. Arr Emily & Rachel.

Two little sisters living in a bower
Oleanda yolling
The youngest was the fairest flower
Down by the waters rolling

Noble knight came riding by
Oleanda yolling
The two little sisters caught his eye
Down by the waters rolling 

And
He courted the eldest with diamonds and rings
Oleanda yolling
But the youngest he loved above all things 
Down by the waters rolling 

Sister oh sister come down to the broom
Oleanda yolling
And well hear the black birds changing their tune 
Down by the waters rolling 

Shes taken her sister gently by the hand
Oleanda yolling
And led her down to the river strand 
Down by the waters rolling 

And when they came to the rivers brim
Oleanda yolling
The eldest pushed her sister in ...

Sister oh sister lend to me your hand
Oleanda yolling
And youll be the heir to my riches and land 
Down by the waters rolling 

Oh Sister oh sister that will never be
Oleanda yolling
Till salt and oatmeal grow both of a tree 
Down by the waters rolling 

Oh Sister oh sister reach me but your glove
Oleanda yolling
And you shall have my own true love 
Down by the waters rolling 

You will lend you neither hand nor glove
Oleanda yolling
But You will have your own true love ...

For your cherry cheeks and your long yellow hair
Oleanda yolling
Made me a maiden for evermore ...

Sometimes she sank sometimes she swam
Oleanda yolling
Until she came to the millers dam 
By the waters rolling 

The Miller and his daughter stood at the door
Oleanda yolling
And watched her floating down by the shore 
Down by the waters rolling 

Oh Father oh father draw your dam
Oleanda yolling
For theres either a mermaid or a swan 
Down by the waters rolling 

The miller he dragged her out on to the shore
Oleanda yolling
And he stripped her of all she wore 
Down by the waters rolling 

He laid her body on the bank to dry
Oleanda yolling
minstrel he came riding by 
Down by the waters rolling 

And He made a harp out of her breast-bone
Oleanda yolling
Whose sound could melt a heart of stone ...

He took three looks from her long yellow hair
Oleanda yolling
with them strung the harp so rare
Down by the waters rolling 

And He took the harp to the kings high hall
Oleanda yolling
And there was the court assembled all 
Down by the waters rolling 

And He laid the harp upon a stone
Oleanda yolling
And it began to play alone ...

But The only tune the harp would play was
Oleanda yolling
The only tune that the harp would play
Down by the waters rolling 

It sang yonder sits my love the king
Oleanda yolling
How hell weep at my burying 
by the waters rolling 

And Yonder sits my sister the queen
Oleanda yolling
She drowned me in the cold cold stream. 
Down by the waters rolling ...