The Two Sisters - Charles Brink (PA) 1948 Bayard
[From Youtube: Samuel Preston Bayard folklore recordings- Charles S. Brink #4; the song begins at 10:12 in the video.
R. Matteson 2018]
The Two Sisters - Sung by Charles Scott Brink near Smicksburg, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, on August 12, 1948 for Samuel Preston Bayard.
There was two sisters lived in the west,
By Noling, by Noling,
There was two sisters lived in the west,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
Along came a young lord and courted both of them,
By Noling, by Noling,
Along came a young lord and courted both of them,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
The oldest one he gave a silver fan,
By Noling, by Noling,
The oldest one he gave a silver fan,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
The youngest one he gave a gold ring,
By Noling, by Noling,
The youngest one he gave a gold ring,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
The youngest one he intended for his bride,
By Noling, by Noling,
The youngest one he intended for his bride,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
These two sisters was crossing a stream,
By Noling, by Noling,
These two sisters was crossing a stream,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
The oldest one she pushed the youngest in,
By Noling, by Noling,
The oldest one she pushed the youngest in,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
O sister, O sister, give to me your hand,
By Noling, by Noling,
O sister, O sister, give to me your hand, --
You may have the young lord and all of his command,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
No, sister, no, sister, I won't give you my hand,
For I can have the young lord and all of his command,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
She sank and she swam till she came to the miller's dam,
By Noling, by Noling,
She sank and she swam till she came to the miller's dam,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
The miller he caught her on his hook,
By Noling, by Noling,
The miller he caught her on his hook,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
They took her breastbone and made a harp of it,
By Noling, by Noling,
They took her breastbone and made a harp of it,
Down by the waters a-rollling.
The first tune he played on't was called the Silver Lea,
By Noling, by Noling,
The first tune he played on't was called the Silver Lea,
Down by the waters a-rollling.