There were two sisters side by side
Sing I dum, sing I day
There were two sisters side by side
The boys are bound for me
There were two sisters side by side
The eldest for young Johnny cried
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
Sing I dum, sing I day
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
The boys are bound for me
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
He never bought the eldest a single thing
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
As they were a walking by the foamy brim
Sing I dum, sing I day
As they were a walking by the foamy brim
The boys are bound for me
As they were a walking by the foamy brim
The eldest pushed the youngest in
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Sister Oh sister give me your hand
Sing I dum, sing I day
Sister Oh sister give me your hand
The boys are bound for me
Sister Oh sister give me your hand
And you can have Johnny and all his land
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Sister I’ll not give you my hand
Sing I dum, sing I day
Sister I’ll not give you my hand
The boys are bound for me
Sister I’ll not give you my hand
And I’ll have Johnny and all his land
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Away she sank and away she swam
Sing I dum, sing I day
Away she sank and away she swam
The boys are bound for me
Away she sank and away she swam
Until she came to the miller’s dam
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Johnny walked by as she floated there
Sing I dum, sing I day
Johnny walked by as she floated there
The boys are bound for me
Johnny walked by as she floated there
The river weeds in her golden hair
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
He laid her out upon a stone
Sing I dum, sing I day
He laid her out upon a stone
The boys are bound for me
He laid her out upon a stone
And stranded her hair with a silver comb
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
He’s taken a length of her golden hair
Sing I dum, sing I day
He’s taken a length of her golden hair
The boys are bound for me
He’s taken a length of her golden hair
This’ll make strings for a fiddle rare.
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
He’s put down the fiddle but the fiddle played on
Sing I dum, sing I day
He’s put down the fiddle but the fiddle played on
The boys are bound for me
He’s put down the fiddle but the fiddle played on
And the tune it played was ‘My dear John’
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Oh fiddle play on for my sister Jean
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh fiddle play on for my sister Jean
The boys are bound for me
Oh fiddle play on for my sister Jean
Twas she that pushed me in the stream
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.
Johnny he sang on the mountain head
Sing I dum, sing I day
Johnny he sang on the mountain head
The boys are bound for me
Johnny he sang on the mountain head
The eldest sister was good and dead
I’ll be true unto my love, if he’ll be true to me.