The Twa Sisters- (Sur) Lady Caroline Murray, c1790 Child Q
[From a collection made by Lady Caroline Murray of Richmond, Surrey (b. 1791) Copied Oct. 26, 1861, by J.F. Campbell, Esq., printed in Popular Tales of the West Highlands, IV, 125.
R. Matteson 2018]
The notes to Q are: The burden is given thus in Pop. Tales of the West Highlands, IV, 125:
Oh ochone, ochone a rie,
On the banks of the Banna, ochone a rie.
Q. THE TWA SISTERS- Copied Oct. 26, 1861, by J.F. Campbell, Esq., from a collection made by Lady Caroline Murray of Richmond, Surrey (b. 1791); traced by her to an old nurse, and beyond the beginning of this century.
1. There dwelt twa sisters in a bower,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
And the youngest she was the fairest flower.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
2. There cam a knight to court the twa,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
But on the youngest his love did fa.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
3. He courted the eldest with ring and wi glove,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
But he gave the youngest all his love.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
4. He courted the eldest with brooch and wi knife,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
But he loved the youngest as his life.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
5. 'O sister, O sister, will ye come to the stream,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
To see our father's ships come in?'
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
6. The youngest stood upon a stane,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
Her sister came and pusht her in.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
7. 'O sister, O sister, come reach me your hand,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
And ye shall hae all our father's land.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
8. 'O sister, O sister, come reach me your glove,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
And you shall hae William to be your true love.'
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
9 'I did not put you in with the design
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
Just for to pull you out again.'
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
10. Some time she sank, some time she swam,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
Until she came to a miller's dam.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
11. The miller's daughter dwelt on the Tweed,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
She went for water to bake her bread.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
12. 'O faither, faither, come drag me your dam,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
For there's aither a lady in't, or a milk-white swan.'
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
13 The miller went, and he dragd his dam,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
And he brought her fair body to lan.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
14 They couldna see her waist sae sma
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
For the goud and silk about it a'.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
15 They couldna see her yallow hair
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
For the pearls and jewels that were there.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
16 Then up and spak her ghaist sae green,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
'Do ye no ken the king's dochter Jean?
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
17 'Tak my respects to my father the king,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
And likewise to my mother the queen.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
18 'Tak my respects to my true love William,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
Tell him I deid for the love of him.
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!
19. 'Carry him a lock of my yallow hair,
Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!
To bind his heart for evermair.'
On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!