Here's one from a singer in CT who learned from her grandmother in Maine Ancient Ballads Traditionally Sung in New England by Helen Hartness Flanders Volume 1 page 246 B variant - The Two Crows Mrs. G. C. Erskine of Cheshire, CT sang this “glee piece” as learned from her grandmother, Orinda Townsend, of Dixfield, Maine (born 1828) H.H. F. Collector, October 1, 1939 There were two crows sat on a tree Hi-dum die-dum derry I-O There were two crows sat on a tree Hi, derry O There were two crows sat on a tree And they were black as crows could be Hi-dum die-dum derry I-O (For succeeding stanzas follow pattern of first stanza) Said one old crow unto his mate “What shall we have for grub to ate?” “There lies a horse on yonder plain ‘T is just six weeks since he was slain” We’ll sit upon his bare backbone And pick his eyes out one by one “There comes a lady full of woe She’s full of grief as she can go” She sat down by the horse’s side And for the love of his rider died.
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