There was a King- Child 10Y "The Twa Sisters"
[Original punctuation and spelling kept; date is 1770. This is Child 10 Y which was added after the first edition came out in 1882 because Child had not purchased the "Percy Papers" yet. If he had this would have been included in the first edition. It is lacking what Barry calls the "resuscitation-ritual" found in Child A-D where the murdered girls body parts and hair are fashioned into an instrument (harp or fiddle) which being played, reveals the murder.]
1 There was a king liv’d in the North Country
Hey down down derry down
There was a king lived in the North Country
And the Bough it was bent to me
There was a king lived in the North Country
And he had daughters one- two-three
I’ll prove true to my Love
If my Love will prove true to me
2 The Eldest she had a Sweetheart came
Hey down &c
The Eldest &c
And the Bough &c
The Eldest &c
But he had a mind for the younger dame
I’ll prove true &c
3 He brought the Youngest a beaver hat
Hey down & c
He brought & c
And the Bough & c
He brought & c
The Eldest she thought much of that
I’ll prove true & c
4 He gave the Eldest a gay gold Ring
Hey down & c
He gave the & c
And the Bough & c
He gave the & c
But he gave the Youngest a better thing
I’ll prove true & c
5 Oh Sister, oh Sister let us go run
Hey down & c
Oh Sister & c
And the Bough & c
Oh Sister & c
To see the Ships come Sailing on
I’ll prove true & c
6 And when they got to the River’s Brim
Hey down & c
And when they & c
And the Bough & c
And when they & c
The Eldest Pushed the Youngest in
I’ll prove true & c
7 Oh Sister, Oh Sister lend me your hand
Hey down &c
Oh Sister &c
And the Bough &c
Oh Sister &c
I’ll make you heir of my house and land
I’ll prove true &c
8 I’ll neither lend you my hand nor my Glove
Hey down & c
I’ll neither lend & c
And the Bough & c
I’ll neither lend & c
Unless you grant me Your True-love
I’ll prove true & c
9 Then down She Sank and away She Swam
Hey down & c
Then down & c
And the Bough & c
Then down & c
Until she came unto the Mill-dam
I’ll prove true & c
10 The Miller’s daughter sat at the Mill-door
Hey down & c
The Miller’s & c
And the Bough & c
The Miller’s & c
As fair as never was seen before
I’ll prove true & c
11 Oh father, Oh father there Swims a Swan
Hey down & c
Oh Father & c
And the Bough & c
Oh father & c
Or else the Body of a dead woman
I’ll prove true & c
12 The miller he ran with his fishing hook
Hey down down derry down
The miller he ran with his fishing hook
And the Bough it was bent to me
The miller he ran with his fishing hook
And he pulled this fair maid out of the Brook
I’ll prove true to my Love
If my Love will prove true to me