Once upon a time

There lived a lady on the north sea shore
Lay te bent to the bonnie broom
She had two daughters that she adored
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The youngest daughter born to sweet delight
Lay te bent to the bonnie broom
The eldest daughter born to greed and spite
Fa la la la la la la la la la

A knight came for the fairest in the land
Lay te bent to the bonnie broom
He was promised the young girl's hand
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Grimmest envy in the elder grew
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
She planned to steal her sister's lover true
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Oh darling sister won't you come with me
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
To watch the swans swimming in the sea?
Fa la la la la la la la la la

On the rocks were the mermaids sing
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The elder sister pushed the younger in
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Oh cruel sister, please let me live
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And all that's mine to you I'll give
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"I'll take your true love and I'll take more"
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
"for I never let you come ashore"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The fair girl drowned beneath
The north sea foam
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Her broken body washed upon the stones
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Three witches found her in the dead of night
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And wove a spell to put her soul at right
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The made a harp out of her skin and bone
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The tuning pegs made from her finger bones
Fa la la la la la la la la la

They took nine locks of her golden hair
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And with them strung the harp so rare
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The took the harp on to her mother's hall
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And set it down to play before them all
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The harp of death began to play alone
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The sweetest song to melt a heart of stone
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Golden strings rang out a truthful sound
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
The elder sister has the younger drowned
Fa la la la la la la la la la

Strings of sorrowmade of golden curls
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
Wreak their vengeance on
The black-haired girl
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The song ends here dark and low
Lay the bent to the bonnie broom
And surely now her blood will flow
Fa la la la la la la la la la