Cat. #0815 (MFH #654) - As sung by Mrs. Norman Engler, Lakeview, Arkansas on April 16, 1969
VERSE 1
Three sisters went out walking one day
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
An' there they met a bank robber
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 2
He took the first one by th hand
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
He gave her whell an' pin cushioned
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 3
It's, will you be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Or will you die by my pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 4
I will not be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
I'd rather die by your pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 5
So, then he drew his pen knife out
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
And there he ended her sweet life
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 6
He took th second one by the hand
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
He gave her a wheel an' a pitaful affend
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 7
It's, will you be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Or will you die by my pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 8
I will not be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
I'd rather die by your pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 9
So, then he drew his pen knife out
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
And there he ended her sweet life
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 10
He took th third one by the hand
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
He gave her a wheel an' a pitaful affend
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 11
It's, will you be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Or will you die by my pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 12
I will not be a bank robber's wife
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
Nor will I die by your pen knife
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 13
If my two brothers, they were here
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
They would not see us dying here
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 14
Pray tell me who your brothers are,
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
One is a minister an' the other like you
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 15
O dear, O dear, what have I done
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
I've killed my sisters, all but one
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
VERSE 16
So, then he drew his pen knife out
O, by yolly on th low, li, day
An' there he ended his own wicked life
On th bonny, bonny banks of th Rye-O
(collected by Jerry Hays)