There was twa sisters in a bow'r,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
There was twa sisters in a bow'r,
Stirling for ay
There was twa sisters in a bow'r,
There came a knight to be their wooer.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
But he lov'd the youngest above a' thing.
He courted the eldest wi' brotch an knife,
But lov'd the youngest as his life.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
An' much envi'd her sister fair.
Into her bow'r she could not rest,
Wi' grief an' spite she almos' brast.
Upon a morning fair an' clear,
She cried upon her sister dear:
"O sister, come to yon sea stran',
An' see our father's ships come to lan'.'
She's ta'en her by the milk-white han',
An' led her down to yon sea stran'.
The younges' stood upon a stane,
The eldest came an' threw her in.
She tooke her by the middle sma',
An' dashed her bonny back to the jaw.
"O sister, sister, tak' my han',
An I'se mack you heir to a' my lan'.
"O sister, sister, tak' my middle,
An' ye's get my goud and my gouden girdle.
"O sister, sister, save my life,
An' I swear I'se never be nae man's wife.'
"Foul fa' the han' that I should tacke,
It twin'd me an my wardles make.
"Your cherry cheeks an' yallow hair
Gars me gae maiden for evermair.'
Sometimes she sank, an' sometimes she swam,
Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam.
O out it came the miller's son,
An' saw the fair maid swimmin' in.
"O father, father, draw your dam,
Here's either a mermaid or a swan.'
The miller quickly drew the dam,
An' there he found a drown'd woman.
You cou'dna see her yallow hair
For gold and pearle that were so rare.
You cou'dna see her middle sma'
For gouden girdle that was sae braw.
You cou'dna see her fingers white,
For gouden rings that was sae gryte.
An' by there came a harper fine,
That harped to the king at dine.
When he did look that lady upon,
He sigh'd and made a heavy moan.
He's ta'en three locks o her yallow hair,
An' wi' them strung his harp sae fair.
The first tune he did play and sing,
Was, "Farewell to my father the king.'
The nextin tune that he play'd syne,
Was, "Farewell to my mother the queen.'
The lasten tune that he play'd then,
Was, "Wae to my sister, fair Ellen.'
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
There was twa sisters in a bow'r,
Stirling for ay
There was twa sisters in a bow'r,
There came a knight to be their wooer.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
But he lov'd the youngest above a' thing.
He courted the eldest wi' brotch an knife,
But lov'd the youngest as his life.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
An' much envi'd her sister fair.
Into her bow'r she could not rest,
Wi' grief an' spite she almos' brast.
Upon a morning fair an' clear,
She cried upon her sister dear:
"O sister, come to yon sea stran',
An' see our father's ships come to lan'.'
She's ta'en her by the milk-white han',
An' led her down to yon sea stran'.
The younges' stood upon a stane,
The eldest came an' threw her in.
She tooke her by the middle sma',
An' dashed her bonny back to the jaw.
"O sister, sister, tak' my han',
An I'se mack you heir to a' my lan'.
"O sister, sister, tak' my middle,
An' ye's get my goud and my gouden girdle.
"O sister, sister, save my life,
An' I swear I'se never be nae man's wife.'
"Foul fa' the han' that I should tacke,
It twin'd me an my wardles make.
"Your cherry cheeks an' yallow hair
Gars me gae maiden for evermair.'
Sometimes she sank, an' sometimes she swam,
Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam.
O out it came the miller's son,
An' saw the fair maid swimmin' in.
"O father, father, draw your dam,
Here's either a mermaid or a swan.'
The miller quickly drew the dam,
An' there he found a drown'd woman.
You cou'dna see her yallow hair
For gold and pearle that were so rare.
You cou'dna see her middle sma'
For gouden girdle that was sae braw.
You cou'dna see her fingers white,
For gouden rings that was sae gryte.
An' by there came a harper fine,
That harped to the king at dine.
When he did look that lady upon,
He sigh'd and made a heavy moan.
He's ta'en three locks o her yallow hair,
An' wi' them strung his harp sae fair.
The first tune he did play and sing,
Was, "Farewell to my father the king.'
The nextin tune that he play'd syne,
Was, "Farewell to my mother the queen.'
The lasten tune that he play'd then,
Was, "Wae to my sister, fair Ellen.'
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