[Two Sisters] The Miller's Daughters- Carlisle (Ark.) 1941; Randolph Version F
[From Vance Randolph's Ozark Folksongs, 1946, Vol. 1 Ballads. A rare Scottish version collected in the US.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
F. [Two Sisters]- Sung by Mrs. Irene Carlisle, Fayetteville, Ark., Oct. 26, 1941. Learned from her grandmother in 1912.
There was two sisters in their tower,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
Sir Hugh he came to court them there,
Bonnery O, bonnery O.
He courted the eldest with a brooch and a knife,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
tsut he loved the youngest one better than life,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
The eldest to the young one said,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
Come see our father's boats come in,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
She taken the youngest by the hand,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
She led her down to the river bank
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
The youngest stood upon a stone,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
The eldest come and throwed her in,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
Oh sister, sister, reach your hand,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
And you shall have the half of my land,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
Oh sister, sister, reach your glove,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
Sir Hugh shall be your own true love,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
Sometimes she sunk, sometimes she swam,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
Till down she come to the miller's dam,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.
Oh miller, miller, dreen your dam,
Bonnery O, bonnery O,
And there you'll find a drownded woman,
Saying bonnery, bonnery O.