Lyr Req: Two Sisters (Frankie Armstrong)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO SISTERS (Frankie Armstrong)
From: Roberto
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 10:19 AM

I'd like to get the correct text of this ballad as sung by Frankie Armstrong. The verse I think I don't get right is in stanza 13, but I'd like someone to check the rest as well. Thank you. Robetrto

The Two Sisters
Frankie Armstrong, Lovely On The Water, Fellside FECD151, ballad first released on Lovely On The Water, Topic 12TS216, 1972

There were two sisters lived in a bower
Hey-O my nannie-O
There came a knight to be their wooer
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

He courted the eldest with glove and rings
Hey-O my nannie-O
But he loved the youngest above all things
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

This grieved the eldest sister sair
Hey-O my nannie-O
And so she envied her sister fair
And the swan swims so bonnie

The eldest said to the youngest one
Hey-O my nannie-O
Let's go see our father's ships come in
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

The youngest stood all on a stone
Hey-O my nannie-O
The eldest came and pushed her in
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

Oh sister, give to me your hand
Hey-O my nannie-O
And I'll give you both house and land
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

Oh I'll give you neither hand nor glove
Hey-O my nannie-O
Unless you give me your own true love
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

So down she sank and away she swam
Hey-O my nannie-O
Until she reached the miller's dam
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

Oh miller, miller, come and draw your dam
Hey-O my nannie-O
There's either a mermaid or a swan
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

You couldn't see her yellow hair
Hey-O my nannie-O
For gold and jewels that were so rare
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

A famous harper passing by
Hey-O my nannie-O
A pale dead face he chanced to spy
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

He made a harp of her breast-bone
Hey-O my nannie-O
Whose notes would melt a heart of stone
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

He framed the strings of her yellow hair
Hey-O my nannie-O
Whose notes made sad a-listening here (??????)
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

He took this harp to her father' door
Hey-O my nannie-O
Where there were the court assembled all
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

He laid this harp all on a stone
Hey-O my nannie-O
And there it began to play alone
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

Oh yonder sits my father the king
Hey-O my nannie-O
And by him sits my mother the queen
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

And yonder sits my brother Hugh
Hey-O my nannie-O
And by him William, my love true
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

And the very last thing the harp played then
Hey-O my nannie-O
Was – Woe to my sister, false Helen!
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie Armstrong's Two Sisters
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 11:26 AM

I think that's "Whose notes made sad the listening ear."

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie Armstrong's Two Sisters
From: Roberto
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 11:33 AM

Thank you, John. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie Armstrong's Two Sisters
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 04:46 PM

We got the song from her (vinyl) recording when the song was new!! Well, almost. It's one of the first songs we ever learned and we still do it now and then.

We have verse 13 as:

He made the strings of her yellow hair
Hey-O my nannie-O
Whose notes made glad the listening ear
And the swan swims so bonnie-O

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie Armstrong's Two Sisters
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 09:01 PM

Hi Bev and Jerry,

I got the lyrics also from Frankie's vinyl LP. I continue to hear it as "sad." That makes more sense. How could a narrative about an ugly murder make anyone glad? Listen again.

Regards,
John