Text by anonymous
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe,
They were as black as black might be
With a down.
The one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakfast take?
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.
Oh, down in yonder greene field,
Downe a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
There 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, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.
His Hawks they fly so eagerly,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
There is no fowl dare nie him come,
With a down.
Oh, down there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with young as she might go,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.
She lifted up his wounded head,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
And kissed the wounds that were so red,
With a down.
She got him up upon her back,
Carried him to earthen lake,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.
She buried him before the prime,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
And was dead herself ere even-song time,
With a down.
God send to every gentleman,
Such hawks, such hounds, and such a Leman.
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.
