10. The Two Sisters

Trad., adapted & arranged by Robin Greenstein


Guitar, Banjo, Vocals - Robin
Bass - Barry Weisenfeld
Fiddle - Dan Collins
Percussion/bodhrun - Cheryl Prashkar


Also known as The Twa Sisters, this is Child Ballad #10. Guys, never take the older sister for granted!


The Two Sisters

There were two sisters side by side, sing ay dum, sing ay day
There were two sisters side by side, the boys are bound for me
There were two sisters side by side, the eldest for young Johnny cried
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring, sing ay dum, sing ay day
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring, the boys are bound for me
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring, he didn't buy the eldest anything
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

Johnny bought the youngest a beaver hat, sing ay dum, sing ay day
Johnny bought the youngest a beaver hat, the boys are bound for me
Johnny bought the youngest a beaver hat, the eldest didn't think much of that
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

As they were a-walking by the foamy brim, sing ay dum, sing ay day
As they were a-walking by the foamy brim, the boys are bound for me
As they were a-walking by the foamy brim, the eldest pushed the youngest in
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

"Oh sister, oh sister, give me thy hand",
sing ay dum, sing ay day
"Oh sister, oh sister, give me thy hand", the boys are bound for me
"Oh sister, oh sister, give me thy hand", and you can have Johnny and all his land
I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

"Oh sister, I won't give you my hand", sing ay dum, sing ay day
Sister, I'll not give you my hand, the boys are bound for me
Sister, I'll not give you my hand, and I'll have Johnny and all his land
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me"

So away she sank and away she swam, sing ay dum, sing ay day
So away she sank and away she swam, the boys are bound for me
So away she sank and away she swam, until she reached the Miller's dam
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

The Miller he took her gay gold ring, sing ay dum, sing ay day
The Miller he took her gay gold ring, the boys are bound for me
The Miller he took her gay gold ring, and then he pushed her in again
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me

The Miller he was hanged on a mountain-head, sing ay dum, sing ay day
The Miller he was hanged on a mountain-head, the boys are bound for me
The Miller he was hanged on a mountain-head, the eldest sister was boiled in lead
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me