ADD: Magpie (Maddy Prior)

Subject: Lyr Req: Magpie by Maddy Prior
From: Folkie Frank
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 03:31 PM

I need some help with the lyrics to Magpie by Maddy Prior, a variation of the original "nursery" song. It is track #16 off her 2008 album 'Seven For Old England'. I managed to transcribe most of the lyrics, but have a few errors.

This is the studio recording I'm trying to transcribe:
Studio version

This is a live version of the song:
Live version

These are the lyrics (with errors) that I managed so far:

[Verse]
Magpie, you lie
You lied in your teeth, you said you were no thief
You came at leisure, you stole your pleasure
You left with treasure, my heart

[Chorus]
One for sorrow, two for joy
Three for a wedding, four for a boy
Five for a fiddler, six for a dance
Seven for Old England and eight for France

[Verse]
Magpie, so sly
Swoop down to your perch, with beady eye(s) in search
You're all incapable of the blackbird's startle
Will end you vision, my heart

[Chorus]


[Instrumental]


[Verse]
Magpie, fly high
Way out of my reach, you chatter and you screech
You wear the talons of the peregrine falcon
That kills for certain, my heart

[Chorus]
One for sorrow, two for joy
Three for a wedding, four for a boy
Five for a fiddler, six for a dance
Seven for Old England
Seven for Old England
Seven for Old England

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

Subject: ADD: Magpie (Maddy Prior)
From: Reinhard
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 05:04 PM

This is from the album's booklet:

16. Magpie

The title of the CD comes from this song. I wrote it back in the sixties, about the time of recording 'Folk Songs of Old England' with Tim Hart, but never sang it because a TV program and song came out at around the same time and seemed to conflict with it. I haven't thought about since then, but it felt appropiiate to perform it here.

MAGPIE
(Maddy Prior)

Magpie, you lie, you lied in your teeth,
You said you were no thief
You came at leisure,
You stole your pleasure,
You left with treasure, magpie

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a wedding
Four for a boy
Five for a fiddler
Six for a dance
Seven for Old England
And eight for France

Magpie, so sly, swoop down from your perch
With beady eye you search
The warning signal
Of the blackbird startled
Ends your vigil, magpie

Magpie, fly high, way out of my reach
You chatter and you screech.
Beware the talons
Of the peregrine falcon
That kills for certain, magpie.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1bFHUgO01I

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Magpie by Maddy Prior
From: Folkie Frank
Date: 16 Sep 19 - 06:02 PM

Thank you so much, Reinhard.