Two Little Sisters- Sineath (FL) 1936 Morris C
[From Folksongs of Florida; by Alton Morris, 1950, pp. 235-36 with music. This version is part of a group of ballads that use the Down by the waters rolling" refrain, found in all the (Morris) Florida versions.
R. Matteson 2014]
C. [Two Little Sisters] No title given. Text secured in November, 1936, from the singing of Mrs. Sineath, Tallahassee, by Miss Iva Glenn Hancock, Aucilla.
There were two little sisters living in the East,
Holding by holding;
There were two little sisters living in the East,
Down by the water side rolling.
There came a young man who courted them both,
Holding by holding;
There came a young man who courted them both,
Down by the water side rolling.
He loved the youngest as his life,
Holding by holding;
He loved the youngest as his life,
Down by the water side rolling.
As they were crossing over the stream,
Holding by holding;
As they were crossing over the stream,
Down by the waters rolling.
The oldest pushed the youngest in,
Holding by holding;
"Oh, Sister, Sister, hand me your hand,
Down by the water side rolling."
First she would sink and then she would swim,
Holding by holding;
First she would sink and then she would swim,
Down by the water side rolling.
The young man tried to pull her in,
Holding by holding;
The young man tried to pull her in,
Down by the water side rolling.
Both of them did lose their lives,
Holding by holding;
Both of them did lose their lives,
Down by the water side rolling.