Three Ravens

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"The Three Ravens" was first published in 1611 by Thomas Ravenscroft, but the words and the details in the song suggest it is older than this. It is related to the Scottish Ballad "The Twa Corbies" with essentially the same storyline, though "The Twa Corbies" is more earthy! "The Three Ravens" also appears in Francis Child's collection of Ballads

Ravenscroft's arrangement is in four parts, Treble, Medius, Tenor & Bassus. The words are only in the Treble part with the other parts simply having the "downe a downe" chorus, though all parts are complete musically. This suggests that Ravenscroft expected mixed groups of voices and instruments to perform this. It works very well for SATB recorders which is how I have arranged the midi file. However, I have only provided two repeats of the song, not the 10 needed for all verses.

There were three Ravens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe,
There were three Ravens sat on a tree, with a downe.
There were three Ravens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be,
With a downe, derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
The one of them said to his mate,
downe a downe hey downe
The one of them said to his mate, with a downe:
The one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakfast take?
With a downe
Downe in yonder greene field,
downe a downe hey downe
Downe in yonder greene field, with a downe.
Downe in yonder greene field,
There lies a Knight slain under his shield,
With a downe
His hounds they lie downe at his feete
downe a downe hey downe
His hounds they lie downe at his feete, with a downe.
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
So well they can their Master keepe
With a downe
His Hawkes they fly so eagerly,
downe a downe hey downe
His Hawkes they fly so eagerly, with a downe.
His Hawkes they fly so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie,
With a downe
Downe there comes a fallow Doe,
downe a downe hey downe
Downe there comes a fallow Doe, with a downe.
Downe there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with yong as she might goe,
With a downe
She lift up his bloudy hed,
downe a downe hey downe
She lift up his bloudy hed, with a downe.
She lift up his bloudy hed,
And kist his wounds that that were so red
With a downe
She got him up upon her backe,
downe a downe hey downe
She got him up upon her backe, with a downe.
She got him up upon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake,
With a downe
She buried him before the prime,
downe a downe hey downe
She buried him before the prime, with a downe.
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herself before even-song time,
With a downe
God send every gentleman,
downe a downe hey downe
God send every gentleman, with a downe.
God dend every gentleman,
Such hawkes, such hounds, such a Leman,
With a downe, downe

There were Three Ravens