Subject: ADD Version: The Magpie (David Dodds)
From:
Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 20 - 12:03 AM
Here's a 2018 performance of "The Magpie" posted by Pete Moyes, who claims this is the way the song was originally performed by Davey Dodds. I found it on Dodds' Facebook page. Does this link work for everyone, or just for Facebook members?
Here's my transcription:
THE MAGPIE
(Dave Dodds)
Devil, devil, I defy thee.
Devil, devil, I defy thee.
Devil, devil, I defy thee.
The magpie brings us tidings,
Of news both fair and foul;
More cunning than the raven.
More wise than any owl.
And she brings us news of the harvest,
Of the barley, wheat, and corn;
And she knows when we go to our graves,
And when we shall be born.
CHORUS
One's for sorrow, two's for joy,
Three's for a girl and four's for a boy;
Five for silver, six is for gold,
Seven's for a secret never told.
She brings us joy when from the right,
Grief when from the left;
And all the birds that's in the air,
We love to trust her best.
For she sees us at our labour,
And she mocks us at our work;
And she steals the eggs from out of the nest,
She can mob the hawk.
CHORUS: (One's for sorrow...)
Now the priest, he says we’re wicked,
That we worship the devil’s bird;
But we respect the old ways,
And we disregard his word.
We know they rest uneasy,
As we slumber in the night;
And we always leave a little bit of meat
For the bird that’s black and white.
Devil, devil, I defy thee...
Not sure about the verse: She brings us joy when from the right
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sj