Digital Tradition Mirror

The Three Ravens

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

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"
DC

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!