Subject: Twa sisters From: Clara Duong Date: 15 Jul 97 - 07:26 AM Hi there, I'm looking for a song which is basically that of 'Binnorie' or the 'Twa sisters' but the version I heard was a very sad, eerie a cappella version where the chorus is 'fa la la la la la la la' instead of 'binnorie oh binnorie'. I know that doesn't sound terribly sad, but I assure you it was. =) Hope someone can help, Clara |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE CRUEL SISTER (sung by Pentangle) From: Jon W Date: 15 Jul 97 - 12:42 PM I think I saw a version on DT that had the fa la la... refrain. I also heard a recording by Pentangle (John Renbourne, Jacqui McShee, et al.) with that chorus, but it wasn't a cappella. Here's my transcription of their lyrics: CRUEL SISTER
There lived a lady by the North Sea shore
As one grew bright as is the sun
A knight came riding to the lady's door
He courted one with gloves and rings
Oh, sister, will you go with me
She took her sister by the hand
And as they stood on the windy shore
Sometimes she sank; sometimes she swam
Oh, sister, sister let me live
Your own true love that I'll have and more
And there she floated like a swan
Two minstrels walked along the strand
They've made a harp of her breastbone
They took three locks of her yellow hair
They went into her father's hall
But as they laid it on a stone
The first string sang a doleful sound
The second string as that they tried
The third string sang beneath their bow
Hope this helps. |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: dick greenhaus Date: 15 Jul 97 - 01:19 PM Twa Sisters is Child #10. Search for #10 in the Digital tradition Database--you should find about tev variants. |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Karina Date: 15 Jul 97 - 08:37 PM Hi. This is actually a very old medieval ballad. It's likely based on reality, but as usual the whys and wherefores have been lost. I'll have to look up the particular text that carries all the lyrics. The one's mentioned in John W's message are the common version available in some older folk song collections. (early 19' hundreds). You can find other versions of the same story by Loreena McKennitt, called the Bonnie Swans, on the Mask and the Mirror, or by Clannad, called The Two Sisters on Dulaman. Our group knows two versions and are currently learning the one John mentioned. Karina |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: anna root Date: 16 Jul 97 - 12:17 AM The Old Blind Dogs do a very lovely rendition of this song--I'll check the album name when I get home. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO SISTERS (sung by T ni Dhmomnaill) From: rechal@earthlink.net Date: 16 Jul 97 - 11:15 AM I heard a version sung by Triona ni Dhmomnaill (from the Bothy Band) that was very up-tempo -- almost suitable for a hoedown. Slightly different lyric structure:
There were two sisters side by side Unfortunately, I heard this sung live, and have never heard this version done by anyone else. |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Seamrog Date: 16 Jul 97 - 11:19 AM I know this tune as ´The Swans Swim Bonnie´ There is a version with not so naughty lyrics sung by Anne Wylie. It also has a great fiddle/Pipe break in between the verses. |
Subject: Lyr Add: OH, THE WIND AND RAIN (Red Clay Ramblers) From: Jon W. Date: 16 Jul 97 - 11:56 AM There's another very different version on the Red Clay Rambler's Hard Times album. The story in it has degenerated considerably - no motive for the murder is mentioned, for instance. The lyrics go like this:
Two lovin' sisters went a-walkin side by side
She floated on down to the miller's millpond The miller fished her out with his long hook and line... He made fiddle strings of her long curly hair... He made fiddle screws of her little finger bones...
But the only tune that fiddle would play was The tune's completely different too but it's interesting the verse structure is the same (line, refrain, line, refrain). |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Karina Date: 16 Jul 97 - 05:45 PM Rechal: The tune you refer to was redone (?) depending on dates, by Clannad on the album I mentioned before, Dulaman, which I believe is still available. It was recorded on Sanachie Records.
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Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Kiwi Date: 16 Jul 97 - 06:53 PM Jon W, there was another, similar version to the one you posted, called "The Cruel Sister", done by Old Blind Dogs. It's a single guitar, and a solo singer on the lyrics, with a chord sung for "Lay the bann tae the bonny broom".. |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Moira Cameron Date: 16 Jul 97 - 08:35 PM I heard a very interesting version of this ballad on an LP entitled "The Feathered Maiden and other Ballads", by Lisa Null and Bill Shute. The ballad is called "Rocky Banks of the Buffalo." It is a distinctly American version with an up beat tune and a story-line that seems to blend with First Nations North American folklore. |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: lindahl@pbm.com Date: 16 Jul 97 - 11:24 PM Why do you think it's medieval? Bronson seems to indicate that it's a fairly modern ballad... I don't have Child lying around to check. -- g |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: rechal@earthlink.net Date: 17 Jul 97 - 04:04 PM Karina -- thanks for the tip. I'll check out the Clannad album. I learned this song from Triona post-Bothy Band, when she was playing in a group called Touchstone from North Carolina, about 15 years ago. She wrote down the lyrics for me.
I'm also pretty familiar with Pentangle's version, which also includes the line, "lay the bent to the bonny broom," that Kiwi mentioned from the Old Blind Dogs version. It's much more melancholy than Triona's/Clannad's version.
As far as the Wind and Rain--I've seen that in a couple of different songs; one entitled "The Cruel Mother" who drowns her two babes, and the other The Cruel Sister or the Twa Sisters.
Pentangle's version of The Cruel Sister doesn't use the refrain "Oh the wind and rain," but nonetheless, the eldest sister's crime is revealed when some musicians happen upon the younger sister's corpse and make a harp from her hair and bones. They then scamper on to the wedding of the eldest sister and Johnny, where the harp sings out the grisly details of the murder.
Lindahl -- I suspect the tune is medieval or at least pretty old, just judging from the number of versions there are, as well as the more oblique rreferences/crossovers (i.e. The Wind and Rain). |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Alan of Australia Date: 17 Jul 97 - 07:45 PM Lindahl, The oldest version known to Child was from a broadside "The Miller and the King's Daughter" dated 1658, assuming there were no later additions (I can't tell right now as my volume 5 has been borrowed - Alison are you listening ;-). Jon W, Cheers, |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Karina Date: 17 Jul 97 - 09:58 PM Lindahl, I think Alan pointed out the version that I have heard. In its entirety, the song is somewhat over 20 minutes to sing. The original version is exceptionally long and becomes exceptionally boring. Pretty well all of the more modern versions seem to take parts of the whole story and use them as works with the new tune. |
Subject: RE: Twa sisters From: Barry Finn Date: 17 Jul 97 - 11:03 PM As Alan Of Australia pointed to it's first (English) appearance in print was 1658, it's belive to be of Norwegian/Scandinavian extraction & exists as a folktale, ballad & as a children's piece. It's been collected in the US, Scandinavian countries, the Balkans, Great Britain, Ireland & throughout Western Eurpoe. So it's quite possible that it's been floating around for quite some time prior to it's appearance as a broadside. Bronson suggests that the versions with the rare refrain 'swan swims' are associated with Celtic communities. Although the older versions were longer, they carried a message for the younger listeners of yore. Folktales & ballads were used to help guide the child of yesteryear into adulthood, the more it was heard the less chance of forgetting the lesson, the longer the lesson, the more to be absorbed. Child & Bronson both have this but see Paul G Brewster 'The Two Sisters' Folklore Fellows Communication #147, Helsinki, 1953 for a main study. Barry |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MILLER AND THE KING'S DAUGHTER From: Bruce O. Date: 27 Feb 98 - 07:00 PM THE MILLER AND THE KING'S DAUGHTER By Mr. [James] Smith
There were two Sisters they went a playing,
And when they came unto the sea-brym,
O sister, O sister, take me by the gowne,
O sister, O sister, that may not bee,
Somtymes she sanke, Somtymes she swam,
The miller runne hastily downe the cliffe,
What did he doe with her brest bone?
What did he doe with her fingers so small?
What did he doe with her nose-ridge?
What did he do with her Veynes so blewe?
What did he doe with her eyes so bright?
with, &c.
What did he doe with her tongue soe rough?
What did he doe with her two shinnes?
Then bespake the treble string,
Then bespake the second string,
And then bespake the stringes all three;
Now pay the miller for his payne,
[From a photo facsimile reprint of 'Wit Restor'd', pp. 51-4, 1658. There was said to be a broadside text printed by Francis Grove in 1656, but no such broadside has been noted as seen by any ballad scholar. The only one of many of Grove's ballads to have contained a date was one of 1643. Child gives the perported broadside version as #10.]
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