The Black Country Three - Three Ravens

"The Three Ravens" is an English folk ballad, printed in the song book "Melismata" compiled by Thomas Ravenscroft and published in 1611, but it is probably older than that.

This version is performed by The Black Country Three, an English folk trio from Wolverhampton, and is released on their eponymous album "The Black Country Three" in 1966.

The painting is by Edward Frederick Brewtnall, an English painter and illustrator active in the late 19th century, known for his portrayal of folk tales and ballads.

LYRICS:

There were three ravens 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, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

Oh, down in yonder green field,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
There 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, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

His Hawks they fly so eagerly,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
There is no fowl dare nie him come,
With a down.
Oh, down there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with young as she might go,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

She lifted up his wounded head,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
And kissed the wounds that were so red,
With a down.
She got him up upon her back,
Carried him to earthen lake,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

She buried him before the prime,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
And was dead her self ere even-song time,
With a down.
God send to every gentleman,
Such hawks, such hounds, and such a Leman.
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

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