Bob the Postman, a very intriguing post. Is this a theory of your own or did you read this somewhere? Robert Graves (don't know who he is)? Tim, absolutely no need to apologise, as I didn't take you to be offhand at all. These posts are for discussion, so surely we should be able to rebutt each others' theories. And it's *so* good that you're concerned to do so politely (since I've had much of the other kind here for no apparent reason I really appreciate your concern for others' feelings). "I personally believe the song is about love and faithfulness". Wow. I'd got so hooked on the assumed supernatural elements I'd pretty much missed that. Tim, I think you've got to the heart of the song. When I sing it tonight I'll use that, thanks! Tootler, "I have heard the Twa Corbies is older than the Three Ravens." Everything I've read (and I forget all my sources, sorry - it was a long time ago) states the other way round. One source (I forget where) went to town pointing out how Twa Corbies was a later corruption of Three Ravens because of the total abandonment of the body and lack of mystery in Twa Corbies.