THE THREE RAVENS
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down, hey down, hey o
And they were a black as black 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, day.
Down in yonder green field,
Down a down, hey down, hey o
A knight slain beneath his shield,
With a down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet
So well they do their master keep.
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, day.
His hawks they fly so eagerly
Down a down, hey down, hey o
No other bird dare him come nigh,
With a down.
Here then there comes a fallow doe
As great with young as she might go.
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, day.
She lifted up his bloody head,
Down a down, hey down, hey o
And kissed his wounds that were so red,
With a down.
She lifted him up on her back
And carried him to an earthen lake.
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, day.
She buried him before the Prime,
Down a down, hey down, hey o
She was dead herself ere Even-song time,
With a down.
God send every gentleman
Such hawks, such hounds, and such leman,
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, day.