Two Sisters

This is a traditional english murder ballad, that has found it's way over to the appalachian mountains, and are now a part of the american folk music tradition. I found it in a little book called "My Favorite Mountain Ballads and Old-Time Songs" collected by Bradley Kinkaid and published in 1928.
Tom Waits sings it on his triple album "Orphans".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• traditional
• folk
• song
• murder
• ballad
• old-time
• old
• time
• appalachian
• mountain
• music

[roseconelley]

I know this was posted awhile back, but I was wondering if you used a reference for the picking pattern and/or the chords. Whatever you can send would be great, Thank you, and you sound wonderful.

[r810s]

@roseconelley I have it from a little book "My Favorite Mountain Ballads and Old-Time Songs" collected and published by a guy named Bradley Kinkcaid in 1928 I was so lucky to lay my hands on a couple of years ago. So I only have the sheet music and the lyrics. I have figured out the chords and the way I play it myself. Kincaid was born in Kentuckey and later ran a radio station in Chicago called WLS the Prairie Farmer Station that was very popular among rural people back then.

[susiakasinead]

This is lovely, I've been looking for this song since I saw Songcatcher. There is also a Swedish version, very dramatic.

[r810s]

I can send you the lyrics if you're interested?

[gadaya]

Beautiful... I just love these old "murder ballads"...

[r810s]

Me too. I have a little collection I sing. Little Sadie, Down in the Willow Garden, Knoxville Girl, Banks of the Ohio and so on.

[unzarjones]

@BertelB I've been wondering the same thing. Couldn't find anything specific on the net.

[thatonedisplayname]

I lika da stache :)

[brijmohun]

Sounds a little like the Clannad version. Maccoll's Minorie is my favourite.

[BertelB]

English is not my first language, and I wonder what "Bow and balance me" means?



[bigpopamac]

this is the closest version to the one that was sung to me when i was very young. it was a "family" song that was sung to the children, and then to their children and so on. I have been searching for the version my mom sang to me, this has been an enjoyable and emotion search. thank you!

[Bwethie]

Looked for ages to find a version of this song that fitted the one I heard and I must say it is sang beautifully! There's something about ballards that is just amazing, even if this one is about murder lol.

Well done I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this! :D

[pollyzero]

I love it!