Name: The Two Sisters
Duration: P00H05M26S
Description: A traditional murder ballad dating back at least to 17th century England. A haunting tale of sibling rivalry, violence, murder, drowning, dismemberment, metamorphosis and ghostly accusations from beyond the grave!

The Two Sisters

by He Mistook Her For A Swan

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about

A traditional murder ballad dating back at least to 17th century England. A haunting tale of sibling rivalry, violence, murder, drowning, dismemberment, metamorphosis and ghostly accusations from beyond the grave!

lyrics

A farmer lived in the north country
Oh the Wind and The Rain
He had daughters one two and three
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
The daughters walked by the river's brim
Oh the Wind and The Rain
The Eldest pushed the youngest in
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

Sister sister lend me your hand
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And I will give you a house and land
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
I'll give you neither hand nor glove
Oh the Wind and The Rain
Unless you give me your own true love
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

Sometimes she sank sometimes she swam
Oh the Wind and The Rain
Until she came to the miller damn
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
The Millers daughter dressed in red
Oh the Wind and The Rain
She went for water to bake some bread
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

Father daddy here swims a swan
Oh the Wind and The Rain
Its very like a gentle woman
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
They laid her on the banks to dry
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And there came a harper passing by
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

He made harp pins with her fingers fair
Oh the Wind and The Rain
He made harp strings of her golden hair
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
He made a harp of her breast bone
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And straight it began to play alone
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
He brought it to her father's hall
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And there was the court assembled all
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
He lay the harp upon a stone
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And straight it began to play alone
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

And there does sit my father the king
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And yonder sits my mother the queen
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh
And there does sit my brother Hugh
Oh the Wind and The Rain
And by him William sweet and true
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

And there sits my false sister Anne
Oh the Wind and The Rain
Who drowned me for the sake of a man
The Swans they swim so bonnie Oh

credits

released December 21, 2023
Colleen Hodgson : Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Steve Koch - Acoustic Guitar, keyboards, Background Vocals
Brian Stillar - Background Vocals
Engineered by Grier Coppins and Steve Koch
Produced by Steve Koch

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He Mistook Her For A Swan Toronto, Ontario

He Mistook Her For A Swan are the Canadian folk duo Colleen Hodgson and Steve Koch. Working from rustic studios in norther Ontario they perform sad and beautiful songs of love and loss. From the treasure chest of British and American traditional songs and select artists they pull the best and darkest songs out for your listening pleasure. ... more

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