The Three Ravens

Here we have The Three Ravens, another mid-English-poem-turned-Child-ballad. This one is less dark than Twa Corbies, but it retains the same sense of restlessness, passage, and dark discoveries.

At http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=19546679&ap=1 you will find a full version of Uliano's enchanting rendition (track 5). The entire album is lovely. Joan Baez has also covered this Child ballad.

There were three ra'ens sat on 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 night,
With a down.
Down there comes a fallow doe
As great with young as might she 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 e'en-song time,
With a down.
God send every gentleman,
Such hawks, such hounds, and such a leman. *
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down

*lover