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THE THREE RAVENS There were three ravens sat on a tree, Down a down, hey down, hey down They were a black as black might be, With a down. The one of them said to his mate. "Where shall we our breakfast take?" With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down. Down in yonder green field, Down a down, hey down, hey down Their lies a knight slain under his shield, With a down. His hounds they lie down at his feet So well they do their master keep. With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down. His hawks they fly so eagerly Down a down, hey down, hey down No other fowl dare him come nigh, With a down. Down there comes a fallow doe As heavy with young as she might go. With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down. She lifted up his bloody head, Down a down, hey down, hey down And kissed his wounds that were so red, With a down. She got him up upon her back And carried him to earthen lake. With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down. She buried him before the prime, Down a down, hey down, hey down She was dead herself ere even-song time, With a down. God send every gentleman Such hawks, such hounds, and such leman, With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down. ----------------------------------------------------------------- recorded on Richard Dyer-Bennet 4 and Nye's Early English Ballads Child #26 Roud R5 From Ravenscroft's 1616 "Melismate" @love @death @animal filename[ THRERAVN TUNE FILE: THRERAVN CLICK TO PLAY DC |
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