No. 26. The Three Ravens
In Child No. 26 we have two ballads, "The Three Ravens" from 1611 and "The Twa Corbies" communicated to Sharpe in the late 1700s. Although both ballads "sprang from the same cloth" they are different enough to be considered separately.
According to Malcolm Douglas: "Bronson (Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads, 1959, I, 308) follows earlier scholars in suggesting that The Three Ravens is descended from the same ancestral song as The Corpus Christi Carol (1504), the latter being a "pious adaptation" of it. David Fowler, by contrast (Literary History of the Popular Ballad, Durham NC: Duke University, 1968, 58-64) sees Three Ravens as "a secularized, chivalric Pieta" based on Corpus Christi."
The Three Ravens is a ballad about love and loyalty. The fallen knight is protected by his hounds, who lie at his feet; his hawks, who protect him from the ravens, no bird can come near. Finally his "fallow doe" which is his "leman" or lover arrives, kisses his wounds and somehow manages to lift him to an earthen lake (grave) where she buries him. Either from exhaustion or heartbreak, the ordeal is too much for her and she in turn dies.
The Twa Corbies, on the other hand, is the antithesis of "The Three Ravens." The knight has died and no one is there for him; he's left abandoned for the ravens to pick his bones clean. The only ones that care about him are gone: his hound is hunting game; his hawk is hunting wild bird and his lady has taken another lover. The last verse sums it up:
"Many a one for him is moaning,
But nobody will know where he is gone;
Over his white bones, when they are bare,
The wind will blow for evermore."
In 1914 Hermann Tardel published a study in German of the ballad: Zwei Liedstudien: I. Die Englisch-Schottische Raben-Ballade. II. Das Lammerstraten-Lied (Two Studies: I. The English-Scottish Raven Ballad II. Songs with Lambs). His study of The Raven Ballad is 27 pages long and my translation appears in Recording & Info section.
R. Matteson 2012]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnote (added at the end of Child's Narration)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts (I've included the additional texts The Three Ravens: A b and Twa Corbies A b, A c, A d from End-Notes; the A d text is not written out from A a)
The Three Ravens: A a. A b.
Twa Corbies A a. A b. A c. A d.
5. Endnotes
6. "Additions and Corrections"
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: The Three Ravens
A. Roud number 5: The Three Ravens (213 Listings)
B. "The Three Ravens" Explicated- Chatman 1963
C. 'The Twa Corbies'- Douglas Hamer 1947
D. 'The Twa Corbies'- William Montgomerie 1955
E. The Three Ravens Alive and Well in Gloucestershire
F. Folklore and John Gay's Satire- Dugaw 1991
2. Sheet Music: The Three Ravens (Bronson's texts and some music examples)
3. US & Canadian Versions
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative
A. a. Melismata. Musicall Phansies. Fitting the Court, Cittie, and Countrey Humours. London, 1611, No 20. [1] [T. Ravenscroft.]
b. 'The Three Ravens,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xviii, No XII.
a was printed from Melismata, by Ritson, in his Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 155. Mr. Chappell remarked, about 1855, Popular Music of the Olden Time, I, 59, that this ballad was still so popular in some parts of the country that he had "been favored with a variety of copies of it, written down from memory, and all differing in some respects, both as to words and tune, but with sufficient resemblance to prove a similar origin." Motherwell, Minstrelsy, Introduction, p. lxxvii, note 49, says he had met with several copies almost the same as a. b is the first stanza of one of these (traditional) versions, "very popular in Scotland."
The following verses, first printed in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and known in several versions in Scotland, are treated by Motherwell and others as a traditionary form of 'The Three Ravens.' They are, however, as Scott says, "rather a counterpart than a copy of the other," and sound something like a cynical variation of the tender little English ballad. Dr. Rimbault (Notes and Queries, Ser. v, in, 518) speaks of unprinted copies taken down by Mr. Blaikie and by Mr. Thomas Lyle of Airth.
The Twa Corbies
a. Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, in, 239, ed. 1803, communicated by C.K. Sharpe, as written down from tradition by a lady.
b. Albyn's Anthology, II, 27, 1818, "from the singing of Mr. Thomas Shortreed, of Jedburgh, as sung and recited by his mother."
c. Chambers's Scottish Ballads, p. 283, partly from recitation and partly from the Border Minstrelsy,
d. Fraser-Tytler Manuscript, p. 70.
Twa Corbies Child A a.
1 As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;
The tane unto the t'other say,
'Where sail we gang and dine to-day?'
2 '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 hound, and lady fair.
3 'His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady 's ta'en another mate,
So we may mak our dinner sweet.
4 '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.
5 'Mony a one for him makes mane,
But nane sail ken where he is gane;
Oer his white banes, when they are bare,
The wind sail blaw for evermair.'
'The Three Ravens' is translated by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, p. 145, No 23; by Henrietta Schubart, p. 155; Gerhard, p. 95; Rosa Warrens, Schottische V. 1. der Vorzeit, p. 198; Wolff, Halle der Völker, I, 12, Hausschatz, p. 205.
'The Twa Corbies ' (Scott), by Grundtvig, p. 143, No 22; Arndt, p. 224; Gerhard, p. 94; Schubart, p. 157; Knortz, L. u. R. Alt-Englands, p. 194; Rosa Warrens, p. 89. The three first stanzas, a little freely rendered into four, pass for Pushkin's: Works, 1855, II, 462, xxiv.
Footnote: 1. Misprinted 22.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
First printed in Melismata, 1611. Chappell remarked, about 1855 (Popular Music of the Olden Time, I, 59), that the ballad was still so popular in some parts of the country that he had "been favored with a variety of copies of it, written down from memory, and all differing in some respects, both as to words and tune, but with sufficient resemblance to prove a similar origin."
Child's Ballad Texts
The Three Ravens- Version A a. Child 26 The Three Ravens
a. Melismata. Musicall Phansies. Fitting the Court, Cittie, and Countrey Humours. London, 1611, No 20. [Misprinted 22] [T. Ravenscroft.]
1 There were three rauens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
With a downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
2 The one of them said to his mate,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
The one of them said to his mate,
With a downe
The one of them said to his mate,
'Where shall we our breakefast take?'
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
3 'Downe in yonder greene field,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
'Downe in yonder greene field,
With a downe
'Downe in yonder greene field,
There lies a knight slain vnder his shield.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
4 'His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay 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 derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
5 'His haukes they flie so eagerly,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
'His haukes they flie so eagerly,
With a downe
'His haukes they flie so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie.'
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
6 Downe there comes a fallow doe,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay 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 derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
7 She lift vp his bloudy hed,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
She lift vp his bloudy hed,
With a downe
She lift vp his bloudy hed,
And kist his wounds that were so red.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
8 She got him vp vpon her backe,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
She got him vp vpon her backe,
With a downe
She got him vp vpon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
9 She buried him before the prime,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
She buried him before the prime,
With a downe
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere euen-song time.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
10 God send euery gentleman,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
God send euery gentleman,
With a downe
God send euery gentleman,
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
The Three Ravens- Child Version A b.
A b. 'The Three Ravens,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xviii, No XII.
THREE ravens sat upon a tree,
Hey down, hey derry day
Three ravens sat upon a tree,
Hey down
Three ravens sat upon a tree,
And they were black as black could be.
And sing lay doo and in doo and day
Twa Corbies Child A a.
1 As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;
The tane unto the t'other say,
'Where sail we gang and dine to-day?'
2 '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 hound, and lady fair.
3 'His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady 's ta'en another mate,
So we may mak our dinner sweet.
4 '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.
5 'Mony a one for him makes mane,
But nane sail ken where he is gane;
Oer his white banes, when they are bare,
The wind sail blaw for evermair.'
Twa Corbies- Version A b.
1 As I cam by yon auld house end,
I saw twa corbies sittin thereon.
2(1) Whare but by yon new fa'en birk.
3 We'll sit upon his bonny breast-bane,
And we'll pick out his bonny gray een;
We'll set our claws intil his yallow hair,
And big our bowr, it's a' blawn bare.
4 My mother clekit me o an egg,
And brought me up i the feathers gray,
And bade me flee whereer I wad,
For winter wad be my dying day.
5 Now winter it is come and past,
And a' the birds are biggin their nests,
But I'll flee high aboon them a',
And sing a sang for summer's sake
---------------
Twa Corbies- Version A c.
1 As I gaed doun by yon hous-en,
Twa corbies there were sittand their lane,
2(1) O down beside you new-faun birk.
3(1) His horse. 3(2), His hounds to bring the wild deer hame.
4 O we'll sit on his bonnie breist-bane
And we'll pyke out his bonnie grey een.
Twa Corbies Version A d.
11 walking forth.
12 the ither.
13 we twa dine.
32 wild bird.
52 naebody kens.
53 when we've laid them bare.
54 win may blaw.
End-Notes
Variations of The Twa Corbies.
b. 1. As I cam by yon auld house end,
I saw twa corbies sittin thereon.
21. Whare but by yon new fa' en birk.
3. We'll sit upon his bonny breast-bane,
And we'll pick out his bonny gray een;
We'll set our claws intil his yallow hair,
And big our bowr, it 's a' blawn bare.
4. My mother clekit me o an egg,
And brought me up i the feathers gray,
And bade me flee whereer I wad,
For winter wad be my dying day.
5. Now winter it is come and past,
And a' the birds are biggin their nests,
But I'll flee high aboon them a',
And sing a sang for summer's sake.
c. 1. As I gaed doun by yon hous-en,
Twa corbies there were sittand their lane.
21. O down beside yon new-faun birk.
31. His horse.
32. His hounds to bring the wild deer hame.
4. O we'll sit on his bonnie breist-bane,
And we'll pyke out his bonnie grey een.
d. 11, walking forth.
12, the ither.
13, we twa dine.
32. wild bird.
52. naebody kens.
53. when we've laid them bare.
54. win may blaw.
Additions and Corrections
P. 253. It has already been noted that traditional copies of 'The Three Ravens' have been far from infrequent. When a ballad has been nearly three hundred years in print, and in a very impressive form, the chance that traditional copies, differing principally by what they lack, should be coeval and independent amounts at most to a bare possibility. Traditional copies have, however, sometimes been given in this collection on the ground of a very slight chance; and not unreasonably, I think, considering the scope of the undertaking.
The copy which follows was communicated by E. L. K. to Notes and Queries, Eighth Series, II, 437, 1892, and has been sent me lately in Manuscript by Mr. R. Brimley Johnson, of Cambridge, England, with this note:
"From E. Peacock, Esq., F. S. A., of Dunstan House, Kirton-in-Lindsay, Lincolnshire, whose father, born in 1793, heard it as a boy at harvest-suppers and sheep-shearings, and took down a copy from the recitation of Harry Richard, a laborer, who could not read, and had learnt it 'from his fore-elders.' He lived at Northorpe, where a grass-field joining a little stream, called Ea, Ee, and Hay, is pointed out as the scene of the tragedy."
1 There was three ravens in a tree,
As black as any jet could be.
A down a derry down
2 Says the middlemost raven to his mate,
Where shall we go to get ought to eat?
A down a derry down
3 'It's down in yonder grass-green field
There lies a squire dead and killd.
A down a derry down
4 'His horse all standing by his side,
Thinking he'll get up and ride.
A down a derry down
5 'His hounds all standing at his feet,
Licking his wounds that run so deep.'
A down a derry down
6 Then comes a lady, full of woe,
As big wi bairn as she can go.
A down a derry down
7 She lifted up his bloody head,
And kissd his lips that were so red.
A down a derry down
8 She laid her down all by his side,
And for the love of him she died.
A down a derry down
62. Var. child.
Trivial Corrections of Spelling.
454 a, line 8. Read ravns.