December 2013 Folk Song

Ambleside Online does not list a folk song for December, 2013, but since I did not do the September song from their Folk Song Rotation I will be doing September's song for December - The Three Ravens. I selected a Peter, Paul and Mary video because it is good, and because I like Peter, Paul and Mary! But it is black and white, and my son does not like that, so at the very bottom there is another choice of video for you.

The Three Ravens was written in 1611, in "early English", by Thomas Ravenscroft and is a ballad of England. This is a very dark tale of a bloody knight being eaten by ravens. His lady finds him, mourns him, buries him, and dies herself. A very sad tale. Read the words, listen to it and make your own decision. I don't always share AO choices with my son...

There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down, hey down, hey down
They were a black as black might be,
With a down.
The one of them said to his mate.
"Where shall we now our breakfast take?"
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down.

Down in yonder green field,
Down a down, hey down, hey down
Their lies a knight slain under his shield,
With a down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet
So well they do their master keep.
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down.

His hawks they fly so eagerly
Down a down, hey down, hey down
No other fowl dare him come nigh,
With a down.
Down there comes a fallow doe
As heavy 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, hey down
And kissed his wounds that were so red,
With a down.
She got him up upon her back
And carried him to 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 even-song time,
With a down.
God send every gentleman
Such hawks, such hounds, and such leman,
With a down, derry, derry, derry down, down.