[There Lived an Old Lord] The Twa Sisters- Rosie Hall (KY) 1939;
[My title, replacing the generic Child title. From Jean Thomas, The Singin' Gatherin', 1939. Stanzas have been changed to a normal figuration. Thomas includes a detailed description and photos of the play-party dance plus a pantomime recreation of story that accompanies the ballad. It appears p. 77-83 in her 1939 book, The Singin' Gatherin'. I have an autographed copy from my grandfather's collection.
The ballad has an "adult theme" and the dance that is based on the ballad is not traditional but rather a creation of Thomas, who was an innovator.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
Ballad Dramatization- c. 1939
There Lived an Old Lord- Rosie Hall (KY) 1939; Jean Thomas
1. There lived an old lord by the Northern sea,
Bowee down,
There lived an old lord by the Northern sea,
Bow and balance to me.
There lived an old lord by the Northern sea,
And he had daughters one, two, three,
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
2. A young man came a-courting there,
Bowee down,
A young man came a-courting there,
Bow and balance to me;
A young man came a-courting there,
And he made choice of the youngest fair.
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
3. Her true love he bought her a beaver hat,
Bowee down,
Her true love he bought her a beaver hat,
Bow and balance to me;
Her true love he bought her a beaver hat,
the eldest one did not like that,
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
4. "O sister, O sister, let's walk the seashore,
Bowee down,
O sister, O sister, let's walk the seashore,
Bow and balance to me;
O sister, O sister, let's walk the seashore,
And see the ships a-sailing o'er."
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
5. As they were walking along the seashore,
Bowee down,
As they were walking along the seashore,
Bow and balance to me;
As they were walking along the seashore,
The eldest pushed the youngest o'er.
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
6. "O sister, O sister, please lend me your hand,
Bowee down,
O sister, O sister, please lend me your hand,
Bow and balance to me;
O sister, O sister, please lend me your hand,
And I will bring you to dry land.
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
7. I neither will lend you my right hand,
Bowee down,
I neither will lend you my right hand,
Bow and balance to me;
I neither will lend you hand nor glove,
For all you want is my true love.
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
8. She bowed her head and away she swam,
Bowee down,
she bowed her head and away she swam,
Bow and balance to me;
She bowed her head and away she swam,
She swam till she came to the miller's dam.
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
9. The miller threw out his drifting hook,
Bowee down,
The miller threw out his drifting hook,
Bow and balance to me;
The miller threw out his drifting hook,
He drew this maiden to the brook.
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
10. And off her fingers took five gold rings,
Bowee down,
And off her fingers took five gold rings,
Bow and balance to me;
And off he, fingers took five gold rings,
Then into the water he plunged her again,
I'll be true to my love, if my love will be true to me.
11. The miller was hung at his own mill door,
Bowee down,
The miller was hung at his own mill door,
Bow and balance to me;
The miller was hung at his own mill door,
For bringing this maiden to the shore
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
12. The sister was hung at her own yard gate,
Bowee down,
The sister was hung at her own yard gate,
Bow and balance to me;
The sister was hung at her own yard gate,
For drowning of her sister Kate,
I'll be true to my love,
If my love will be true to me.
