The Three Ravens
The Three Ravens is a very old song. The spelling here for raven is "rauen", which is the old way to spell it. Several other spellings in this rhyme are also archaic. This is a very sad song.
The Three Ravens
Folk Song
There were three rauens* sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
With a downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
The one of them said to his mate,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
The one of them said to his mate,
With a downe
The one of them said to his mate,
"Where shall we our breakefast take?"
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
"Downe in yonder greene field",
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
Down in yonder greene field,
With a downe
Down in yonder greene field,
There lies a knight slain under his shield.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
With a downe
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
So well they can their master keepe.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
His haukes they flie so eagerly,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
His haukes they flie so eagerly,
With a downe
His haukes they flie so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
Downe there comes a fallow doe,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
Downe there comes a fallow doe,
With a downe
Downe there comes a fallow doe,
As great with yong as she might goe.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
She lift up his bloudy hed,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
She lift up his bloudy hed,
With a downe
She lift up his bloudy hed,
And kist his wounds that were so red.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
She got him vp vpon her backe,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
She got him vp vpon her backe,
With a downe
She got him vp vpon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
She buried him before the prime,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
She buried him before the prime,
With a downe
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere euen-song time.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
God send every gentleman,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
God send euery gentleman,
With a downe
God send euery gentleman,
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
Notes
*Ravens
Comments
This song can be found in "Ancient Songs: From the Time of King Henry the Third, to The Revolution" (1790) by Joseph Ritson.
Ritson wrote about how this song existed in 1611 (and before): "From Ravenfcrofts 'Melifmata. Mufical Phanfies. Fitting the Cittie, and Countrey Humours. To 3, 4, and 5. voyces. Lond. 1611.' It will be obvious, that this ballad is much older, not only than the date of the book, but than most of the other pieces contained in it."
