Three Ravens
Words and Music by : Anonymous (1611, with earlier references)

There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Downe, a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
With a downe,
There were three ravens 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 downe, 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 downe, hay downe,
Downe in yonder greene field,
With a downe,
Downe in yonder greene field,
There lies a knight slain neith his shield.
With a downe,
Derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.

His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
Downe, a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
With a downe,
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
So well they their master keepe.
With a downe,
Derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.

His huakes they flie so eagerly,
Downe, a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
His huakes they flie so eagerly,
With a downe,
His huakes 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 downe, 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 downe, 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 up upon her backe,
Downe, a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
She got him up upon her backe,
With a downe,
She got him up upon 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 downe, hay downe,
She buried him before the prime,
With a downe,
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herself ere even-song time.
With a downe,
Derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.

God send every gentlemen
Downe, a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
God send every gentlemen
With a downe,
God send every gentlemen
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman.
With a downe,
Derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.

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