Prince by the Northern Sea- Ives (IL) 1940 REC Abrams
[On the Abrams Collection site: "Recorded from the Columbia Radio School of the Air program, Burl Ives performs "The Twa Sisters." A similar text was posted on Mudcat "I have it on a Burl Ives record, and it is in the [1960] MIT Outing Club Songbook." I've changed the text to fit Ives' recording which may be traditional. Folk singer Ed McCurdy (January 11, 1919 – March 23, 2000) covered this version on A Treasure Chest Of American Folk Song: Ed McCurdy; Elektra EKL 205 (Mono) - Released: 1961.
Additional text and info upcoming.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Prince by the Northern Sea- Burl I'ves1940
There was an old prince by the northern sea,
Bow down,
There was an old prince by the northern sea,
Bow and balance to me.
There was an old prince by the northern sea,
And he had daughters one, two, three.
I will be true, true to my love, love,
And my love will be true to me.
A young man came a-courting there,
His natural choice was the young and fair,
He gave his love a gay gold ring,
The family thought that a sinful thing,
He gave his love a beaver hat,
The ugliest sister thought hard of that,
Oh sister dear let's we walk out,
And watch the ships a-sailing about
As they walk-ed down by the salt-sea brim
The ugly one pushed the fair one in,
Away she she sank and . .
. . .
The miller cried, "If you give me a broach,
I'll pull you out
The miller was hanged for what he did take,
The eldest sister was burned at the stake.