The Four Vultures (The Three Crows)- Frank Brower's Black Diamond Songster (NY) 1863
[This burlesque parodies the church custom of "lining out" a hymn (also known as "deaconing").
From: Frank Brower's Black Diamond Songster and Ebony Jester (New York: Dick and Fitzgerald, [c. 1863]), pp. 30-31. The ballad, titled "The Four Vultures. A Burlesque Quartette," is prefaced by the description: "As sung by Frank Brower, Ephe Horn, Nelse Seymour, and Charley Fox. (Always received with shouts of laughter.)"
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
THE FOUR VULTURES- Frank Brower's Black Diamond Songster and Ebony Jester (New York: Dick and Fitzgerald, [c. 1863]), pp. 30-31
SPOKEN (slowly and precisely).
There were three crows sat on a tree,
And they were black as black could be.
Brothers, sing!
QUARTETTE.
There were three crows sat on a tree,
And they were black as black could be.
SPOKEN.
One of them said unto his mate,
"What shall we do for grub to eat!"-
Brothers, sing!
QUARTETTE.
One of them said unto his mate,
"What shall we do for grub to eat?"
SPOKEN.
There lies a horse on yonder plain,
Whose bod-y has been late-ly slain.
Brothers, sing!
QUARTETTE.
There lies a horse on yonder plain,
Whose bod-y has been late-ly slain.
SPOKEN.
Let's perch ourselves on his back-bone,
And pick his eyes out, one by one!
Brothers, sing!
QUARTETTE.
Let's perch ourselves on his back-bone,
And pick his eyes out, one by one!
SPOKEN.
The devil thought to in-jure me,
By cutting down my apple-tree,
Brothers, sing!
QUARTETTE.
The devil thought to in-jure me,
By cutting down my apple-tree.
SPOKEN.
He did not in-jure me at all,
For I had apples all the fall.
Brothers, sing!
QUARTETTE.
He did not in-jure me at all,
For I had apples all the fall.