Old Lord of the North Country- Stone (VA) 1919 Davis A
[From Davis, Traditional Ballads From Virginia, 1929, version A. Davis' notes follow.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
THE TWA SISTERS
(Child, No. 10)
One might expect to find this ballad rather abundantly in Virginia, as Child reports it as one of the very few old ballads which are not extinct as tradition in the British Isles. The thirteen Virginia items are known variously as "The Two Sisters," "The Old Man of the North Countree," "Sister Kate," "The Miller and the Mayor's Daughter," ("I'll Be True to My Love," "The Three Sisters," and by other like titles.
All the Virginia variants, except the final fragment (K), belong with Child R and Y, and perhaps with the kindred fragments S and U between, as is shown by the refrain and the details of the story. The final fragment (K) is a different version: it has a refrain similar to Child G and J, but the drowned girl is a king's daughter, as in Child A. All of the Virginia texts are without that striking but rather gruesome detail found in more complete and uncorrupted form of the ballad - the use of some part of the body of the drowned girl to furnish a musical instrument which then makes known the murderer. The ballads that follow do not tell how the miller's guilt was discovered, but they state satisfyingly that he was hung at his mill gate. No punishment is mentioned for the elder sister. The miller is always the villain, never the innocent rescuer of the body as in Child A and R, etc.
For American texts, see Barry, No. J; Belden, No. 2 (fragment); Bulletin, Nos. 2-8; Campbell and Sharp, No. 4 (North Carolina, Virginia; cf. Sharp, Songs, II, No. a); Child, I, 137 (New York); II, 508 (New York); Cox, No. 3. p.521 (fragment and melody); Gray, P.75; Hudson, No. 3 (Mississippi);- Journal XVIII, 130(Barry, Rhode Island, text and melody, Maine); XIX, p. 233 (Belden, Kentucky, Missouri, fragment, reprinted from James Ashby's Missouri ballad-book); XXX, 286 (Kittredge- Missouri, Nebraska); Pound, Syllabus,p. 11 (fragment); Pound, Ballads, No. 4; Shearin, p. 11 Shearin and Combs, p. 7 (fragment). For additional references, see Journal, XXX, 286 and Cox, p. 20. It will be noted that Campbell and Sharp give three texts and three melodies from Virginia.
A. "The Old Lord of the North Country" or "The Three Sisters." Collected by Mr. John Stone. Sung by Mr. A. S. Furcron. Fauquier County. November 10, 1919. With music.
1. There lived an old lord in the North Countree,
Bow down
There lived an old lord in the North Countree,
Bow down you bittern to me,
There lived an old lord in the North Countree,
And he had daughters, one, two, three
If this be true, true love, my love, my love will be true to me.
2. There came a young gentle courting there,
Bow down.
There came a young gentle courting there,
Bow down you bittern to me.
There came a young gentle courting there,
Courting of the youngest fair.
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
3. The father brought the youngest a beaver hat,
Bow down.
The father brought the youngest a beaver hat,
Bow down you bittern to me.
The father brought the youngest a beaver hat,
The elder swore she shouldn't have that.
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
4. "O sister, sister, let's (uh) we walk out,"
Bow down.
"O sister, sister, let's (uh) we walk out,"
Bow down you bittern to me.
"O sister, sister, let's (uh) we walk out
And see those ships that sail about."
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
5. They walked till they came to the salt sea brim,
Bow down.
They walked till they came to the salt sea brim,
Bow down you bittern to me.
They walked till they came to the salt sea brim,
And the eldest pushed the youngest in,
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
6. "O sister, sister, lend me your hand,"
Bow down.
"O sister, sister, lend me Your hand,"
Bow down you bittern to me.
"O sister, sister, lend me Your hand
And you shall have my house and land."
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
7. "I'll neither lend you my hand nor my glove,"
Bow down.
"I'll neither lend you my hand nor my glove,"
Bow down you bittern to me.
"I'll neither lend you my hand nor my glove,
For you shan't have my own true love."
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
8. Oh, the miller he came with his fish hook,
Bow down.
Oh, the miller he came with his fish hook,
Bow down you bittern to me.
Oh, the miller he came with his fish hook
And fished that fair maid out of the brook.
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
9. off of her fingers took five gold rings,
Bow down.
And off of her fingers took five gold rings,
Bow down you bittern to me.
And off of her fingers took five gold rings
He pushed her back in the brook again.
If this be true, true love, my love, my love, be true to me.
10. Oh, the miller was hanged at his mill gate,
Bow down.
Oh, the miller was hanged at his mill gate,
Bow down you bittern to me.
Oh, the miller was hanged at his mill gate
For the murder of the Sister Kate.
If this be true, true love, fry love, my love, be true to me.