Two sisters sang in a shady bower.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
A song to pass a happy hour.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

One was bright as the morning sun.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
Dark as earth was the other one.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

One day, Johnny came a-courting there.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
Hungry for the sisters, fair.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

He courted the brighter with a glove.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
And vowed he would be her own true love.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

He courted the darker with a knife.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
And vowed he would take her sweet, young life.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

"Oh, Johnny, Johnny come and walk the cliffs."
Oh, the wind and the rain.
"To watch the ships and the sailing skiffs."
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

But as he looked down upon the shore,
Oh, the wind and the rain.
he sisters pushed cruel Johnny o'er.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

A minstrel walked by the windy strand.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
And saw his body float to land.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

She made a harp of his white breast bone.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
The sight would melt a heart of stone.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

Harp strings she made from his yellow hair.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
And with them strung this harp so rare.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

The harp she took to a shady bower.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
Where two sisters sang of love and power.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

And laid the harp upon a stone.
Oh, the wind and the rain.
Where it began to play alone.
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

"Two sisters did I come to court."
Oh, the wind and the rain.
"And of their love, I made cruel sport."
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.

"They chose each other over me."
Oh, the wind and the rain.
"And by my death, they are set free."
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.