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
playexe THRERAVN
DC
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