The Cruel Sister

	  		Intro 
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Verse 
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There lived a lady by the North Sea shore 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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Twa daughters were the bairns she bore 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
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One was as bright as is the sun 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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Sae coal black grew the elder one 
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Verse 
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A knight came riding to the ladies' door 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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He travelled far to be their wooer 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
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He courted one, aye, with gloves and rings 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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But he loved the other above all things 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Instrumental 
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Verse 
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"Sister, sister won't you walk with me 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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An' see the ships sail upon sea?" 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
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And as they stood on that windy shore 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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The elder sister pushed her younger o'er 
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Verse 
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Sometimes she sank or sometimes she swam 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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Crying, "Sister, reach to me your hand" 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
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And there she floated just like a swan 
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Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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The salt sea carried her body on 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Instrumental 
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Verse 
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Two minstrels walking by the north sea strand 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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They saw the maiden, aye, float to land 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
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They made a harp out of her breast bone 
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Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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The sound of which would melt a heart of stone 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
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They took three locks of her yellow hair 
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Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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And wi' them strung that harp so rare 
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Instrumental 
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Verse 
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The first string that those minstrels tried 
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Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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Then terror seized the black-haired bride 
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Verse 
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The second string played a doleful sound 
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Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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"The younger sister, oh, she is drowned" 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la 

Verse 
                                          D 
The third string, it played beneath their bow 
        Em 
Lay the bairn tae the bonnie broom 
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"And surely now her tears will flow" 
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Fa la la la la la la la la la