There lived a lady by the North Sea shore
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Two daughters were the babes she bore
Fa la la la la la la la la la
As one grew bright as is the sun
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
So coal black grew the elder one
Fa la la la la la la la la la
Oh, sister will you go with me
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
To watch the ships sail on the sea?
Fa la la la la la la la la la
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 la la la la la la la la
And as they stood on the windy shore
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The dark girl threw her sister over
Fa la la la la la la la la la
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand"
Fa la la la la la la la la la
Oh sister, sister, let me live
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And all that's mine I'll surely give
Fa la la la la la la la la la
Your own true love that I'll have and more
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
But thou shalt never come ashore
Fa la la la la la la la la la
And there she floated like a swan
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The salt sea bore her body on
Fa la la la la la la la la la
