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

Three Sisters and the Robber (Child 14) Listening time: (5 minutes)

AUDIO RECORDING

VERSE 1
Three sisters went out walking one day
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
An' there they met a bank robber
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 2
He took the first one by th hand
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
He gave her a wheel an' pin cushion
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 3
It's, will you be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Or will you die by my pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 4
I will not be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
I'd rather die by your pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 5
So, then he drew his pen knife out
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
And there he ended her sweet life
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 6
He took th second one by the hand
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
He gave her a wheel an' a pitiful offend,
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 7
It's, will you be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Or will you die by my pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 8
I will not be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
I'd rather die by your pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 9
So, then he drew his pen knife out
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
And there he ended her sweet life
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 10
He took th third one by the hand
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
He gave her a wheel an' a pitiful offend,
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 11
It's, will you be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Or will you die by my pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 12
I will not be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Nor will I die by your pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 13
If my two brothers, they were here
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
They would not see us dying here
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 14
Pray tell me who your brothers are,
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
One is a minister an' the other like you
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 15
O dear, O dear, what have I done
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
I've killed my sisters, all but one
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

VERSE 16
So, then he drew his pen knife out
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
An' there he ended his own wicked life
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read: what happens to the first two sisters? what information does the third sister give to the bank robber? why does the bank robber kill himself? 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.