“The Three Ravens” is an English folk ballad, printed in the Ravenscroft’s folk song compilation Melismata published in 1611. The song is very likely older than this first publication.
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There were three Ravens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
They were as blacke as blacke could be—with a downe.
Then one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakefast take?
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
Downe in yonder greene field,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
There lies a Knight slain under his shield—with a downe.
His hounds they lie downe at his feete
So well do they their Master keepe
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
His Hawkes they flie so eagerly,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
There's no fowle that dare him come nie—with a downe.
Downe there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with yong as she might go
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
She lifted up his bloody head,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
And kiss'd his wounds that were so red—with a downe.
She got him up upon her backe
And carried him to earthen lake.
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
She buried him before the prime,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
She was dead her selfe ere evensong time—with a downe.
Comments by eltodesukane
eltodesukane commented on the word downe
song "The Three Ravens"
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“The Three Ravens” is an English folk ballad, printed in the Ravenscroft’s folk song compilation Melismata published in 1611. The song is very likely older than this first publication.
-
There were three Ravens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
They were as blacke as blacke could be—with a downe.
Then one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakefast take?
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
Downe in yonder greene field,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
There lies a Knight slain under his shield—with a downe.
His hounds they lie downe at his feete
So well do they their Master keepe
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
His Hawkes they flie so eagerly,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
There's no fowle that dare him come nie—with a downe.
Downe there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with yong as she might go
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
She lifted up his bloody head,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
And kiss'd his wounds that were so red—with a downe.
She got him up upon her backe
And carried him to earthen lake.
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
She buried him before the prime,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe.
She was dead her selfe ere evensong time—with a downe.
God sent every gentleman,
Such hawkes, such hounds, and such a leman
With a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe.
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https://genius.com/Anonymous-the-three-ravens-annotated
February 29, 2024