The Twa Corbies

<= Return to Airs and Song Tunes Page

This traditional Scottish Ballad, written in Lowland Scots dialect is thought by some to date back to the 14th. Century. It related to the English Folk song "The Three Ravens" which first appeared in print in 1611 and is one of the Child ballads (No. 26) It has a directness which would probably not be acceptable today and tells of a different attitude to life. The ballad has no tune known to be associated with it. The present tune is a traditional Breton tune "Al Alarch" and was adopted by the late R M Blythman. It somehow captures the sombre tone of the ballad.

I found this tune in a little publication from the early 60's "101 Scottish Tunes" chosen by Norman Buchan. I have slightly adapted the tune as it was given there so that it better fits the words.

  1. As I was walkin' all alane
    I heard twa corbies makkin a mane
    Tha tain tae the tither ane did say-o
    "Where sall we gang and dine the day-o
    "Where sall we gang and dine the day?"

  2. "In ahint yon auld fail dyke
    I wot there lies a new-slain knight
    And naebody kens that he lies there-o
    But his hawk and his hound and his lady fair-o
    Hawk and his hound and his lady fair"

  3. "His hound is tae the huntin gane
    His hawk tae fetch the wildfowl hame
    His lady's ta'en another mate-o
    Sae we mun mak our dinner sweet-o
    We mun mak our dinner sweet"

  4. "Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane
    And I'll pike oot his bonny blue een
    Wi ae lock o his gowden hair-o
    We'll theek oor nest when it grow bare-o
    Theek oor nest when it grows bare"

  5. "Mony a ane for him maks mane
    But nane sall ken where he is gane
    Oer his white bones when they are bare-o
    The wind sall blaw for evermair-o
    Wind sall blaw for evermair."

Glossary:

Corbies:
Crows or Ravens
Mane:
moan or cry
Ahint:
behind
fail dyke:
turf wall
ken:
know
Hause-bane:
breast bone
Theek:
thatch (theek oor nest = line our nest)