Three Little Sisters
Love and Longing: Three Little Sisters' Tale of Devotion
Lyrics
Three little sisters
Three young sisters
Each one only in her teens
Each sister is in her teenage years
One loved a soldier, one loved a sailor, one loved a lad from the marines
Each sister had affection for a man from different military branches: one for a soldier, one for a sailor, and one for a marine
Oh the three little sisters
The three sisters
They were the fairest from Iceland to the Philippines
Considered the most beautiful girls from Iceland to the Philippines
So said the soldier, so said the sailor, so said the lad from the marines
Confirmation of their beauty from the soldier, sailor, and marine
And when the boys marched away
When the boys went off to war
The girls said they'd be true until the boys came back someday
The girls promised faithfulness until the boys returned
Now three little sisters
The repeated mention of the three sisters
Three little sisters
Emphasizing the three sisters
Stay home and read their magazines
They remain at home and pass their time reading magazines
Tell it to the soldier, tell it to the sailor, tell it to the marine
Mockingly, implying the girls only talk about their interests to the military men
And when the boys marched away
Reiteration of the boys leaving for war
The girls said they'd be true 'til the boys came back someday
The girls reassert their commitment to wait for the boys' return
Now three little sisters
Repeated mention of the three sisters
Three little sisters
Emphasizing that they continue to stay at home and read magazines
All stay home and read their magazines
Mocking repetition, suggesting their repetitive talk to the military men about their mundane lives
Tell it to the soldier, tell it to the sailor, and tell it to the marine
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