Two Sisters- Henry (KY) 1917 Sharp G
[From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Sharp/Karpeles 1932, version G, w/music. Sharp's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
Notes from Sharp, 1917 edition: No. 4. The Two Sisters
Texts without tunes:—Child, No. 10.
Texts with tunes:—Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, i., pp. 40 and 42. Journal of the Folk-Song Society, i., 253, and ii., 282. English County Songs, p. 118. Northumbrian Minstrelsy, p. 61. Child, v., pp. 411 and 412 (three tunes). "Binnorie," arranged
by Dr. Arthur Somervell. American variants:—Journal of American Folk-Lore, xviii., 130 (with tune); xviii., 130 (without tune); xix., 233.
G. [Two Sisters] Sung by Miss VIOLET HENRY at Berea, Madison Co., Ky., May 21, 1017;
Hexatonic (no 6th).
O sister, O sister, there swims a swan,
Bowey down,
O sister, O sister, there swims a swan,
Bow and balance to me,
O sister, O sister, there swims a swan,
O No, it's not, it's some fair one.
I'll be true to my love, If my love 'll be true to me.