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.



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recorded on Richard Dyer-Bennet 4 and Nye's Early English Ballads

Child #26

From Ravenscroft's 1616 "Melismate"

@ballad @love @death @animal

filename[ THRERAVN

play.exe THRERAVN

DC

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