The Three Crows- Purcell (VA) c.1890 Davis AA
[More Traditional Ballads of Virginia, Davis, 1960. The Purcell's were frequent contributors to TBVa also.
R. Matteson 2014]
AA. "The Three Crows." Collected by Miss Margaret Purcell, of Greenwood, Va. Sung by her mother, Elizabeth Ashton Garrett Purcell (Mrs. S. H. Purcell), of Greenwood, Va., in the early nineties. Albemarle County, May, 1934. Tune noted by Winston Wilkinson.
1 There were three crows sat on a tree,
O Billy Magee Magaw,
There were three crows sat on a tree,
O Billy Magee Magaw,
There were three crows sat on a tree,
And they were black as crows could be,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
"Caw, caw, caw."
2. Said one black crow unto his mate,
Billy Magee Magaw,
Said one black crow unto his mate,
Billy Magee Magaw,
Said one black crow unto his mate,
"Where shall we get some grub to eat?"
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
"Caw, caw, caw."
"There lies a horse on yonder plain,
O Billy Magee Magaw,
"There lies a horse on yonder plain,
O Billy Magee Magaw,
There lies a horse on vonder plain,
And he has just been lately slain."
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
"Caw, caw, caw."
"We'll perch upon his bare backbone.
O Billy Magee Magaw,
"We'll perch upon his bare backbone.
O Billy Magee Magaw,
We'll perch upon his bare backbone,
And pick his eyes out one by one."
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
"Caw, caw, caw."