The Three Ravens
from MMF! Songbook

History

The Three Ravens is an old English song appearing in Ravenscroft's "Melismata" in 1611.

Lyrics
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down-a-down, hey down, hey down,
They were black as they 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 under his shield,
With a down.
His hound 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 across her back
And carried him to earthen lake,
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down.

She buried him before his prime,
Down-a-down, hey down, hey down,
She was dead herself, ere even-song time,
With a down.
God send every gentlemen
Such hawks, such hounds, and such leman,
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down.

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