| Three sisters
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| Came to me last night
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| Last night
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| They said, «There's a boat
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| On the shore
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| A gas lantern and one oar
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| For your trip
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| Go home
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| And tell your mother don’t
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| Don’t weep for me
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| Leave everything you have there
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| For beasts of the field and birds of the air
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| To trample and steal.»
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| «Three sisters
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| Tell me what you’re called
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| You’re named by men.»
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| «Want of love,»
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| Said the first
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| «The most noble aim on Earth
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| And I am known by all.»
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| «Want of wealth,»
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| Said the next
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| «So your work’s not meaningless
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| And I am loved by most.»
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| «Want of none,»
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| Said the third
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| As her sisters' faces turned
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| And they seemed to forget me
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| «With one of us
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| You must sail
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| It’s always been and always will
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| Though no one’s ever told you.»
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| «My mother lived alone
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| So I have no need of love
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| And I have no wish to conquer man
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| I see no need for needy friends.»
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| The sisters laughed
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| «There's truly nothing that you need
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| You won’t miss us when we leave,»
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| And I had cast them out
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| To the boat I was led
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| As we approached, I turned and said «Wait …
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| I need some oil.»
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| I said, «To light the lamp
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| I need some oil
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| To steer the boat I need two oars.»
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| The sisters said, «Money can buy you oil
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| And a friend can man an oar.» |