Two Sisters- Hattie Presnell (NC) 1966 Burton
[From Some Ballad Folks, Burton, 1978. His notes follow. Hattie Presnell learned this from her Uncle Monroe, whose version is titled, "Two Sisters that Loved One Man," which was collected by Warner in 1951. The refrain is unusual and is found in a regional version by Nora Hicks. Hattie has an extra verse or two and her version is different enough to warrant inclusion.
R. Matteson 2014]
Two Sisters (Child 10)
tonality: pentatonic III; range: octave + p4 (V-8); cadences: 1, 5, 1, 1; form: ABCA; harmony: unaccompanied
Hattie on one occasion after a few stanzas said, "That ain't hardly the tune of it." Because the considerable number of variations were unintentional, giving a composite of her song's tune and lyrics is deemed justifiable. when one time she pitched the tonal center at F the range was only an octave (1-8) because it was too low to reach the lower dominant and sixth.
Two Sisters- Sung by Hattie Presnell; a composite of versions from 1966 through 1971.
There were two sisters that loved one man,
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
And the youngest one he loved best.
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, Sister, Sister, walk with me,
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
Walk with me to the miller's pond."
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
Oh, the oldest pushed the youngest in;
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
Hit was good that the water was clear.
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, Sister, Sister, reach me your hand;
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
You can have half of the land."
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, Sister, Sister, I won't reach my hand,
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
And I will have all of the land'"
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, Sister, Sister, reach me your glove;
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
You can have Sweet William for your old true love."
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, Sister, Sister, I won't reach my glove,
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
And I can have Sweet William for my own true love."
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
Oh, she floated around and she floated down;
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
She floated down to the miiler's pond.
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, Miller, Miller, come and see,
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
Come and see what's floating by me.
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
"Oh, it's got a fish nor it's not a swan;
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
It is Sweet William's old truelove'"
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.
Because he could not have the youngest for his wife,
Jenny flower gentle rosemary;
Sweet William took his own life.
And the jury hangs over the rosemary.