The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #121600 Message #2659009
Posted By: Joe_F
17-Jun-09 - 08:40 PM
Thread Name: Two sisters, two songs?
Subject: RE: Two sisters, two songs?
In a common American version of the "bow & balance to me" type, there are *three* sisters (contamination from King Lear?) & she is never mentioned after the first stanza. It has been a repeated temptation for me to sing, at the end,
The eldest daughter ran off with the prince,
Bow down, bow down,
The eldest daughter ran off with the prince,
Bow & balance to me,
The eldest daughter ran off with the prince,
And neither of them has been heard from since.
I will be true, true to my love,
Love, and my love will be true to me.
In that one, there is no quarrel *about* a hat, but
He gave the youngest a beaver hat.
The elder sister thought ill of that.
Plain envy.