Three Black Crows- Tillett (NC) 1924 Chappell; Bronson 4
[From: Folks-Songs of the Roanoke and the Albemarle; Chappell 1939;
R. Matteson 2014]
"Three Black Crows" Chappell, 1939, p. 15; text, pp. 5-6. Sung by Charles "Tink" Tillett, Wanchese, N.C., text, 1924, tune, 1935. Bronson: The connection here with "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" which itself doubtless has venerable roots- is not so clear in the present copy.
Three old crows sat on a tree,
O Billy McGee McGaw,
Three old crows sat on a tree,
And they were black as crows could be,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
Whillop, whillop,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
O Billy McGee McGaw.
One old crow said to his mate,
O Billy McGee McGaw,
One old crow said to his mate,
What shall we do for something to eat?
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
Whillop, whillop,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
O Billy McGee McGaw.
There's an old horse on yonders plain,
O Billy McGee McGaw,
There's an old horse on yonders plain
By some cruel old butcher slain,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
Whillop, whillop,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
O Billy McGee McGaw.
They placed themselves on his backbone,
O Billy McGee McGaw,
They placed themselves on his backbone,
And they plucked his eyes out one by one,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
Whillop, whillop,
And they all flapped their wings and cried,
O Billy McGee McGaw.