| Download Midi File Charles Wingate |
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| This ballad is a variant of The Three Ravens which dates back to 1611 where it appears in Melismata. Musicall Phansies Fitting the Court, Cittie, and Countrey Humours by T. Ravenscroft. Child names this a "cynical version" of the original ballad.
Corbie is another word for raven or crow. This ballad is a variant of Child Ballad #26 (The Three Ravens). For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site go to Francis J. Child Ballads. |
As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies making a mane; The tane unto the t'other say, 'Where sall we gang and dine to-day, Where sall we gang and dine to-day?' 'In behint yon auld fail dyke, I wot there lies a new slain knight; And naebody kens that he lies there, But his hawk, his honnd, and lady fair, His hawk, his honnd, and lady fair. 'His hound is to the hunting gane, His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, His lady 'a ta'en another mate, So we may mak our dinner sweet, We may mak our dinner sweet. 'Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane, And I'll pike out his bonny blue een; Wi ae lock o his gowden hair We'll theek our nest when it grows bare, We'll theek our nest when it grows bare.' 'Mony a one for him makes mane, But nane sall ken where he is gane; Oer his white banes, when they are bare, The wind sail blaw for evennair, The wind sail blaw for evennair.' |
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| Music from Charles Wingate | |