The Three Ravens- Dew (IO) pre1936 Stout E
[From, Folklore from Iowa, collected and edited by Earl J. Stout. 1936. This is one of the exceptional versions of the this ballad collected, but is it traditional? It was sent it, and the validity of it as a traditional ballad cannot be proven. Stout does not supply much information- even the date is missing- details are sorely needed here. The music assuming it was sung would be important also. Rare ballads that are "sent in" are always suspect.
Dew also contributed Stout F, with the standard verses although the question still remains: Is this a ballad recreation or is it traditional? It's so close to Child A as found in the 1611 Melismata that I'd say it's copied, the refrains are too exact, for example.
R. Matteson 2014]
E. "The Three Ravens." Contributed by George Dew, Reinbeck, and reproduced here as reported by him.
1. There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down, hey down hey down;
They were as black as they might be,
with a down.
And one of them said to his mate,
"Where shall we our breakfast take!"
with a down derry, derry, derry, down, down.
2. Behold, alas, in that green field,
Down a down, hey down hey down;
There lies a knight slain under his shield,
with a down.
His hounds lie[s] beside his feet,
So well do they the master keep,
with a down derry, derry, derry, down, down.
3. His faithful hawks so near him fly,
Down a down, hey down hey down;
No bird of prey dare venture nigh,
with a down.
But see here comes a fallow doe,
And to the knight she straight doth go,
with a down derry, derry, derry, down, down.
4, She lifted up his ghastly head,
Down a down, hey down hey down;
And kissed his wounds that were so red,
with a down.
She hurried him befor the prime,
And died herself at ev'nsong time,
with a down derry, derry, derry, down, down.