The Three Ravens

The Three Ravens

There were three ravens sat on a tree,

Down a down, hay down, hay down,

There were three ravens sat on a tree,

With a down.

There were three ravens sat on a tree,

They were as black as they might be,

With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

The one of them said to his mate,

“Where shall we our breakfast take?

“Down in yonder green field

There lies a knight slain under his shield.

“His hounds they lie down at his feet,

So well they can their master keep.”

“His hawks they fly so eagerly,

There’s no fowl dare him come nigh.”

Down there comes a fallow doe,

As great with young as she might go.

She lifted up his bloody head,

And kissed his wounds that were so red.

She got him up upon her back,

And carried him to earthen lake.

She buried him before the prime;

She was dead herself ere evensong time.

God send every gentleman

Such hawks, such hounds, and such a lemman.