There were three ravens (Thomas Ravenscroft)

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• CPDL #02766: 

Editors: Greg Lindahl and Bernard Roth (submitted 2001-06-06).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 169 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: There were Three Ravens
Composer: Thomas Ravenscroft

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: 4 part
Genre: Secular, Canon

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Melismata (1611)

Description: One voice only, #20 from 'Melismata'

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Original text and translation

English text

There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down hey down hey down.
And they were as black as they might be,
With a down.
Then one of them said to his mate:
"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 an 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.
God send every gentleman
Such hounds, such hawks and such a leman.
With a down derry derry derry down down.