The three ravens See base text
Language: English
Our translations: DUT
There were three ravens sat on a tree, Down a down hey down hey down. And they were ... black as they might be, With a down. Then one of them said to his make: "Where shall we our breakfast take?" With a down derry derry derry down down. Down in yonder greenfield, Down a down hey down hey down. There lies a knight slain under his shield; With a down. His hounds they lie down at his feet, So well they can their master keep. With a down derry derry derry down down. His hawks they fly so eagerly, Down a down hey down hey down. There is no fowl dare come him nigh With a down. But down there comes a fallow doe, As great with young as she might go. With a down derry derry derry down down. O she lifts up his bloody head, Down a down hey down hey down. And kissed his wounds that were so red. With a down. She got him up upon her back And carried him to ... earthen lake. With a down derry derry derry down down. She buried him before the prime, Down a down hey down hey down. She was dead herself ere evensong time. With a down. Now God send every gentleman Such hounds, such hawks and such a leman. With a down derry derry derry down down.
Note: "leman" means 'sweetheart'
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Composition:
- Set to music by Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882 - 1961), "The three ravens"
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Tinelot Wittermans) , "Dutch Translation", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 35
Word count: 232