The Three Ravens
From Child #26
Dates to at least 1611
There were three ravens sat in a tree,
Down a down, hey down, hey down,
They were as 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,
There lies a knight slain 'neath 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 come him nigh,
With a down...
Down there comes a fallow doe,
As great 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 evensong time,
With a down...
God send every gentleman,
Such hawks, such hounds, and such leman.
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down.
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This page ©1998 by Ulf Gunnarsson
Last Modified : May 26th, 1998
