Bluegrass Messengers

The Two Sisters- Eddy (WV) 1957

[From: Ballads and Folksongs from West Virginia by Ruth Ann Musick; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 70, No. 277 (Jul. - Sep., 1957), pp. 247-261.

R. Matteson 2011, 2014]

2. "The Two Sisters" (The Twa Sisters, Child 10) [3]

2.1. Text and tune contributed by Mrs. Amanda Ellen Eddy of Rivesville, who learned them from her mother; melody (Ex. 4) from a recording made by Mrs. Eddy's niece, Edith McCord (former student).



(1) There was an old woman lived on the sea shore,
Bow down;
There was an old woman lived on the sea shore,
Always true to my love;
There was an old woman lived on the sea shore,
And daughters she had three or four;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(2) The youngest one she caught a beau,
Bow down;
The youngest one she caught a beau,
Always true to my love;
The youngest one she caught a beau;
The oldest didn't like that, you know;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(3) It's, oh, dear sister, let's walk the sea shore,
Bow down;
It's, oh, dear sister, let's walk the sea shore,
Always true to my love;
It's, oh, dear sister, let's walk the sea shore,
And see the ships as they sail o'er;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(4) And as they walked along the sea brim,
Bow down;
And as they walked along the sea brim,
Always true to my love;
And as they walked along the sea brim,
The oldest pushed the youngest in;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(5) She bowed her head and away she swam,
Bow down;
She bowed her head and away she swam,
Always true to my love;
She bowed her head and away she swam,
She swam till she came to the miller's dam;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(6) It's, oh, dear miller, I've gold rings ten,
Bow down;
It's, oh, dear miller, I've gold rings ten,
Always true to my love;
It's, oh, dear miller, I've gold rings ten,
And if you'll pull me from your dam;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(7) The miller he threw in his own grab hook,
Bow down;
The miller he threw in his own grab hook,
Always true to my love;
And brought her safely from his brook;
hook,
And brought her safely from his brook;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(8) And when he got her gold rings ten,
Bow down;
And when he got her gold rings ten,
Always true to my love;
And when he got her gold rings ten,
He pushed her in his dam again;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.

(9) The miller was hung on his own mill gate,
Bow down;
The miller was hung on his own mill gate,
Always true to my love;
The miller was hung on his own mill gate,
For the drowning of my sister Kate;
Always true to my love, if my lover be true to me.