Wicked Sister Lyrics

A mother lived by the north sea shore.
Daughters were the babes she bore.
One grew radiant as the sun,
Darker grew the other one.
A knight came riding to their door.
He traveled far to be their wooer.
He courted both with golden rings
But loved the younger o'er all things.
Sister, won't you walk with me
To watch the ships sail o'er the sea?
As they walked the rocky shore,
The dark one pushed her sister o'er.
Sister, sister, let me live
And all that's mine I'm sure to give.
Thy bridegroom I will take and more
But thou shall never come ashore.

Off she floated like a swan.
The salt sea bore her body on.
You could not see her lily feet,
Her golden fringes were so deep.
A minstrel walking by the sand
Saw her body float to land.
When he looked that lady on
He sighed and gave a heavy moan.
Made a harp of her breastbone.
The sound could melt a heart of stone.
Took the strands of her bright hair
And with them strung his harp so rare.
He brought the harp to the wedding hall
There to play before them all.
When he set it on a stone
The harp began to play alone.
The strings sang out a dreadful sound.
The bride, her younger sister drowned.
Now her secret you all know.
The guilty tears will surely flow.
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Lyrics submitted by Mary Smith.