[sung]
[MRS JOHNSTONE]
Tell me it's not true
Say it's just a story

[spoken]
[NARRATOR]
So, did you hear the story of the Johnstone twins?
As like each other as two new pins
Of one womb born, on the self same day
How one was kept and one given away
And did ya never hear how the Johnstones died

Never knowing that they shared one name
Until the day they died, when a mother cried:
"My own dear sons lie slain!"
And did ya never hear of the mother so cruel
There's a stone in place of her heart?
Then bring her on and, come, judge for yourselves
How she came to play this part

Overture Lyrics

WILLY RUSSELL