Child's Ballads Week 12: England - Assignments - Reading - Resources - Images

Two Daughters (Child 10) Listening time: (4 minutes)

AUDIO RECORDING

VERSE 1
There was an old woman lived on th sea shore
Bow down
There was an old woman lived on th sea shore
Lord, have mercy on me
There was an old woman lived on th sea shore
She had some daughters, two or more
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

VERSE 2
Th youngest one, she had a beau
Bow down
Th youngest one, she had a beau
Lord, have mercy on me
The youngest one, she had a beau
An' th older one, she did'nt have none
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

VERSE 3
He gave to her a ten gold ring
Bow down
He gave to her a ten gold ring
Lord, have mercy on me
He gave to her a ten gold ring
An' he did'nt give the older one, a thing
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

[other versions say "gay gold ring" instead of "ten gold ring"]

VERSE 4
O sister, O sister, let's walk th sea shore
Bow down
O sister, O sister, let's walk th sea shore
Lord, have mercy on me
O sister, O sister, let's walk th sea shore
And see th ships as they sail o'er
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

VERSE 5
As they went walking along th stream
Bow down
As they went walking along th stream
Lord, have mercy on me
As they went walking along th stream
Th older one pushed th young one in
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

VERSE 6
O sister, O sister, just lend me your hand
Bow down
O sister, O sister, just lend me your hand
Lord, have mercy on me
O sister, O sister, just lend me your hand
I'll will to you my house and land
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

VERSE 7
She went on swiming, like a swan
Bow down
She went on swiming, like a swan
Lord, have mercy on me
She went on swiming, like a swan
And swum to th gates of th millers pond
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

VERSE 8
Th miller threw out his grab boat
Bow down
Th miller threw out his grab boat
Lord, have mercy on me
Th miller threw out his grab boat
And got poor Kate on shore once't more
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

[other versions say "grab hook" instead of "grab boat"]

VERSE 9
She gave to him her ten gold ring
Bow down
She gave to him her ten gold ring
Lord, have mercy on me
She gave to him her ten gold ring
And he pushed her back in th brook again
Saying, I'll be true to my lover
My love'll be true to me

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read: what present did the one sister receive from her lover? what did her sister do to her? what did she give to the miller when he rescued her? what did the miller do? Source: From The Max Hunter Folksong Archive (weblink) and Lesley Nelson's Child Ballad website (weblink). See also Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898). Weblink.