O sister, sister, reach thy hand! Hey ho, my Nanny, O; And you shall be heir of all my land, While the swan swims bonny, O. The first part of this chorus seems to be corrupted from the common burden of _Hey, Nonny, Nonny_, alluded to in the song, beginning, "_Sigh no more, ladye_." The chorus, retained in this edition, is the most common and popular; but Mrs Brown's copy bears a yet different burden, beginning thus:-- There were twa sisters sat in a bour, Edinborough, Edinborough; There were twa sisters sat in a bour, Stirling for aye; There were twa sisters sat in a bour, There cam a knight to be their wooer, Bonny St Johnston stands upon Tay. THE CRUEL SISTER. * * * * * There were two sisters sat in a bour; Binnorie, O Binnorie; There came a knight to be their wooer; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. He courted the eldest with glove and ring; Binnorie, O Binnorie; But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. He courted the eldest with broach and knife; Binnorie, O Binnorie; But he lo'ed the youngest abune his life; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. The eldest she was vexed sair; Binnorie, O Binnorie; And sore envied her sister fair; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. The eldest said to the youngest ane, Binnorie, O Binnorie; "Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?" By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. She's ta'en her by the lilly hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And led her down to the river strand; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. The youngest stude upon a stane, Binnorie, O Binnorie; The eldest came and pushed her in; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. She took her by the middle sma', Binnorie, O Binnorie; And dashed her bonny back to the jaw, By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. "O sister, sister, reach your hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie; "And ye shall be heir of half my land." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. "O sister, I'll not reach my hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie; "And I'll be heir of all your land; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. "Shame fa' the hand that I should take, Binnorie, O Binnorie; "Its twin'd me, and my world's make." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. "O sister, reach me but your glove, Binnorie, O Binnorie; "And sweet William shall be your love." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.