Peter Paul and Mary, Three Ravens

Peter Paul and Mary, Three Ravens

Lyrics:

There were three ravens sat on a tree
Down-a-down, Hey! Down-a-down,
And they were black as they might be, with a down
The one of them said to his mate:
"What shall we for our breakfast take?"
With a down, derry derry derry down, down
Down in yonder green field,
Down-a-down, Hey! Down-a-down,
There lies a knight slain under his shield, with a down
Down there comes a fallow doe,
As great with young as she might go
With a down, derry derry derry, down, down
She lifted up his bloody head,
Down-a-down, Hey! Down-a-down,
And kissed his wounds that were so red, with a down
She got him up across her back
And carried him to the earthen lack*
With a down derry derry derry down, down
She buried him before his prime
Down-a-down, Hey! Down-a-down,
She was dead herself, ere evening time, with a down
God send every gentlemen
Fine hawks, fine hounds and such a loved one
With a down derry derry derry down, Hmmm
(*lack means lake. It is an ancient pronunciation.)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Peter Paul and Mary
• Three Ravens
• folk music
• music

[thecheesepoet]

thank you for posting this, this means more than you can imagine. My mother use to sing this song to me every night. i never heard the song itself. Sadly my mother died of cancer when i was 13. And tonight this is the first time I ever heard the song, it made me cry. thank you again <3

[cschoon1213]

@ thecheesepoet ,

I am sorry about your mother and I hope that this song has brought back good memories of her despite the tears. God Bless !

[youngLaraCroft]

Beautiful interpretation! thanl you for posting!

[cschoon1213]

@ youngLaraCroft,

You are most welcome!

[apcwzrd]

Three Ravens is also recorded in literature as Child ballad #26. It is one of PP&M's lesser known songs although it still remains one of my top favorites. Beautiful guitar work and harmony. Thanks for posting.

[cschoon1213]

@apcwzrd ,

Yes. I found The Three Ravens in my copy of The Oxford Anthology of British Literature Vol. 2 and it had the following excerpt;

" The Three Ravens Child, no. 26. Air: Thomas Ravenscroft, Melismata... (1611). In this form, or as the grimmer "Twa Carbies" (Two Crows), very well known and wide spread." It even has the original music score to it !

Thanks for the information. Fascinating !

~~~ Chuck S

[karatechopkitten]

This is one of my favorite songs of theirs. My grandfather had a 4 disk cd set with many of their songs. Unfortunatly I lost the one that had this song on it.

[mrpunch51]

Greeet as they were. All you can do is lov em. Me do. Atsawaytodoit!

[pencilpauli]

Superb!

What a wonderful performance!

[fauxgrace]

too beautiful

[svosek]

Try this version watch?v=rSSdewM6oY4

[kairushinjuu]

Only bit I disliked was the changing of leman to loved one. Just strained the flow a little I think.

[akoponen]

Great song! Great singers! I would have liked if some of the other verses were included as well...but it still brings tears to my eyes.

[buckdowner]

A tribute to young lost warriors. Particularly to those 'drafted' out of childhood for worthless schemes now forgotten as Far East Tourist Attractions and spent ammunition hunts.

May the MIA come home one day...to 'such a lovely one...'