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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Introducing the AO Folk Songs for 2025-2026


TERM 1

The Three Ravens

On Ilkla (Ilkley) Moor Baht 'at (Without a Hat)

The Rose of Tralee

TERM 2

Battle of Otterburn (The Lammas Tide)

Wade in the Water

Down in the Valley

TERM 3

Scarborough Fair

Along the Road to Gundagai 

I'll Tell Me Ma (The Belle of Belfast City)


Some of you may remember these songs from the last time we worked our way through the AmblesideOnline cycle of folk songs. But if you're new here, and even if you're not, we think you'll get more out of these songs if you read the blog posts we've put together for them.

For selected video links, please visit our Folk Songs page at AmblesideOnline.org. 

We are also featuring each folk song on its very own post here on Archipelago, linked in the list above. These posts will be linked from the AO Folk Songs page, too. This way, when you start preparing to introduce a new song, it will be easy as pie to click straight to that song's blog post. Be sure to check out each song's post for recommended lyrics and recordings, and interesting info about each song.


And Now For A Few Helpful Hints


If you’re new around here (and if so, welcome and we’re so glad you’re here!), please (we beg you!) read/re-read Wendi Capehart’s post Folk Songs: Some Back StoryThen read her brief but terrific introductory comments here, where she shared some of her easy but brilliant ideas for living the folk singing life.

You may also enjoy this essay by Lynn Bruce: Folk Songs, Unplugged

And if you’re still not quite sure why we AO folks make such a fuss about singing, please read Folk Songs: Some Real Life Experiences for a hearty dose of encouragement. 

Here's to another great year of singing!

Folk Song for June 2026: I'll Tell Me Ma (Belle of Belfast City)

The last song for this school year is a fun, fast children's game/dancing song. Although it is now thought of as an Irish song (referring to the Belle of Belfast City), it was also heard in other parts of the United Kingdom, naming other places such as "London City."

The Wikipedia page for this song lists a wide variety of performers, more than we can list here. Some to check out: The Chieftains, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and (for the Canadians) The Rankin Family.

Lyrics

(Chorus)
I'll tell me ma, when I go homeThe boys won't leave the girls aloneThey pulled my hair, they stole my combBut that's alright, 'til I go homeShe is handsome, she is prettyShe is the belle of Belfast cityShe is a-courting one, two, threePlease, won't you tell me who is she?
1. Albert Mooney says he loves herAll the boys are after her [fightin' for her]Knock at the door, ringin' the bellOh, my true love are you well?Out she comes as white as snowRings on her fingers, bells on her toesWee Jenny Murray says she'll dieIf she doesn't get the fellow with the roving eye
(Chorus)
I'll tell me ma, when I go homeThe boys won't leave the girls aloneThey pulled my hair, they stole my combBut that's alright, 'til I go homeShe is handsome, she is prettyShe is the belle of Belfast cityShe is a-courting one, two, threePlease, won't you tell me who is she?
2. Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow highAnd the snow come tumbling from the skyShe's as nice as apple pieAnd she'll get her own lad [boy] by and byWhen she gets a lad of her ownShe won't tell her ma when [till] she comes homeLet them all come as they willFor it's Albert Mooney she loves still
(Chorus)
I'll tell me ma, when I go homeThe boys won't leave the girls aloneThey pulled my hair, they stole my combBut that's alright, 'til I go homeShe is handsome, she is prettyShe is the belle of Belfast cityShe is a-courting one, two, threePlease, won't you tell me who is she?
(Repeat chorus 2x)

Video Links

Belle of Belfast City (Irish Rovers). Also here. The first link includes lyrics on the screen. The second link includes this additional verse:


A-skipping she's the best of allShe never slips, she never fallsDouble Dutch or Heel and ToeShe's the one that steals the showWhen they all come out to playShe's the one that leads the wayAnd Albert Mooney's always thereTo see the girl with the golden hair.

Sham Rock. This one goes pretty fast. The video shows a variety of people dancing in a pub, including, apparently, Elvis.

Abby Ulveland and Possibly Irish. Fun video, very family-friendly.

Bonus Video: Angelo Kelly and Family. This is what it looks like when families sing together!

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Folk Song for May 2026: Along the Road to Gundagai

 "Along the Road to Gundagai" is a popular and peppy Australian song, written by Jack O'Hagan in 1922. One interesting fact (according to Wikipedia) is that, in spite of writing a tremendously famous song about the town of Gundagai, O'Hagan did not actually visit it until 1956, when he was the guest of honour at its centenary celebrations.

Lyrics (as recorded by Peter Dawson in 1924)

There's a track winding back
To an old-fashioned shack
Along the road to Gundagai.

Where the blue gums [gum trees] are growing
And the Murrumbidgee's flowing
Beneath the sunny sky,

Where my daddy and mother are waiting for me
And the pals of my childhood once more I will see.
Then no more will I roam when I'm heading right for home
Along the road to Gundagai.

Video Links

The Howie Brothers (This video begins with a half-minute clip from a silent movie. It also adds an extra verse.)

Slim Dusty. Classic version.

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Folk Song for April 2026: Scarborough Fair

"Scarborough Fair" is a traditional English folk song (one of the Child Ballads). It has been best known, for the past several decades, in a version by Simon and Garfunkel (sung live here along with Andy Williams).

However, the song, in its original version, is much older than that. It is one of a special genre of old songs (sometimes called paradox or riddle songs) that ask someone to do impossible tasks, like making a shirt "without any seam or needlework." How can that be done? Will the singers ever get together in spite of their impossible demands? We can only guess.

Lyrics

One set of lyrics can be found at the website of the Brobdingnagian Bards, here and here.

As a second option, the Wikipedia article includes the first three stanzas as given in the book Traditional Tunes, by Frank Kidson (1891) (which, interestingly, suggests quite a different tune. Those who can read music might want to experiment with that). Here is the full set of lyrics as given in the same book. The first part of the song is sung by a man; the second is a response from the woman.

(Note that most recordings of the song substitute "Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme" for "Savoury sage.")

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“O, where are you going?” “To Scarborough fair,”

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme;

“Remember me to a lass who lives there,

For once she was a true love of mine.


“And tell her to make me a cambric shirt.

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Without any seam or needlework,

And then she shall be a true love of mine.


“And tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Where no water sprung, nor a drop of rain fell,

And then she shall be a true love of mine.


“Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Which  never bore blossom since Adam was born,

And then she shall be a true love of thine.”


“Oh, will you find me an acre of land,

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Between the sea foam, the sea sand,

Or never be a true lover of mine.


“O, will you plough it with a ram’s horn.

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

And sow it all over with one peppercorn,

Or never be a true lover of mine.


“O, will you reap it with a sickle of leather,

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

And tie it all up with a peacock’s feather,

Or never be a true lover of mine.


“And when you have done and finished your work,

Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

You may come to me for your cambric shirt,

And then you shall be a true lover of mine.”


Video Links

The Celtic Woman. Includes onscreen lyrics.

Ewan MacColl, from his 1957 album with Peggy Seeger, Matching Songs of the British Isles and America.


Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Folk Song for March 2026: Down in the Valley

"Down in the Valley" used to be a song that everybody knew, in some form or other. If it is new to you, we hope that it will become one of your family favourites as well. It may not be quite as old as many traditional folk songs, though. 

According to Wikipedia, it was written by a "moonshiner" named Jimmie Tarlton when he was jailed (in Birmingham, Alabama) in 1925. The song was recorded by Jimmie Tarlton and Tom Darby in 1927.

However, other sources say that the song is much older. This article says, "It is part of the English, Irish, and Scottish courting song traditions that persisted in the Appalachian and Ozark Mountains throughout the nineteenth century. The melody may be derived from J.C. Beckel's "The Happy Home Waltz," published in 1850. Alternately, "Down in the Valley" may be an older tune that inspired Beckel's composition." The early versions are more like courting songs, and don't include the references to jail.

In any case, Tarlton's version inspired many other recordings, as well as performances in movies and television.

Lyrics (these are typical, but there are many variations)

Down in the valley valley so low
Hang your head over hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow dear hear the wind blow
Hang your head over hear the wind blow.

Roses love sunshine violets love dew
Angels in heaven know I love you
Know I love you dear know I love you
Angels in heaven know I love you.

If you don’t love me love whom you please
Throw your arms ’round me give my heart ease
Give my heart ease love give my heart ease
Throw your arms round me give my heart ease.

Build me a castle forty feet high
So I can see him as he rides by
As he rides by love as he rides by
So I can see him as he rides by.

Write me a letter send it by mail
Send it in care of Birmingham jail [or, "You can address it, Birmingham jail"]
Birmingham jail love Birmingham jail
Send it in care of Birmingham jail.

Recommended Video Links

The Browns (trio). Description includes lyrics.

Faye Tucker, from the album "Belly Up To the Bar: Country and Western Classics to Drown Your Sorrows." Despite the title, this is a good and fairly slow version to learn with.

Clip from the Andy Griffith show. Slightly different tune.

 Some Others You Might Like

Here is Burl Ives' classic version.

"Birmingham Jail" by Leadbelly

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, from the album "Shady Grove"

A live performance by Glen Campbell.


Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.
For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Folk Song for February 2026: Wade in the Water (with contributions from Wendi Capehart)

In 2018, our much-loved Advisory member Wendi posted here about the song "Wade in the Water." We thought it would be good to hear again what she had to say about it. (Most of the links given are hers as well.)

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Somehow in the domino effect that happens when chasing down information on the internet I ended up clicking a link to Wade in the Water, a favourite of mine since childhood days.

There are a lot of variations to this one, both to the lyrics and the tune, although the basic heart of the song is always:

Wade in the water.
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water.
God's gonna trouble the water.

According to Wikipedia, ""Wade in the Water" (Roud 5439) is the name of a Negro spiritual first published in New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1901) by John Wesley Work II and his brother, Frederick J. Work (see Fisk Jubilee Singers). It is associated with the songs of the Underground Railroad."

(The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an African-American a cappella ensemble, consisting of students at Fisk University. The first group was organized in 1871 to tour and raise funds for college. Their early repertoire consisted mostly of traditional spirituals, but included some Stephen Foster songs. The original group toured along the Underground Railroad path in the United States, as well as performing in England and Europe. Later 19th-century groups also toured in Europe.)

What does it mean?  Depends on who you ask, and also on who is singing.

Some of the reference are obvious:

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had., John 5:4

Moses led the Israelites out of slavery.

Under the surface: it's probably a spiritual celebrating freedom and encouraging it as well, literally.   Harriet Tubman was the Moses of her people. The Ohio River had to be crossed to reach freedom, and often references to the Jordan River were coded references to The Ohio River. It's giving hints on how to get to freedom- wade in the water to keep the blood hounds off your trail, follow our Moses, cross the Ohio river, make it to the other side.  

When God troubles the water... is that a reference to conditions being right to make a run for freedom?  


The background is meaningful and important- but if you only have time for one thing, make it be singing the song (s)

Sing!

Lyrics



Video Links

On the AO Folk Songs webpage, you will see two links to Youtube videos. The first goes to this one by the Staple Singers, and the second goes to this one by the vocal ensemble Chanticleer.

Here are the extra videos that Wendi recommended, with her notes.

Wade in the Water by the Jeeemeys, the alter-ego of musician and teacher Jimmy Rossi. Mr. Rossi put the lyrics in his video so it's easy to follow along. This version is also fairly simple and easy to follow as it lacks the wonderful improvisation that often accompanies Wade in the Water.

Wade in the Water by Ella Fitzgerald and the Goodwill Spiritual Choir

Here's a version by the Blind Boys of Alabama 
  

St James Missionary Baptist church of Canton, 1978

Topher Keene teaches an audience how to sing it in 3 part harmony, a very good teaching/learning recording for those who want extra help (could be fun with an AO/CM co-op)
 

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.
For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Folk Song for January 2026: The Battle of Otterburn / The Lammas Tide

The Battle of Otterburn (or Otterbourne) is a Scottish ballad, another of the “Child Ballads.” It is an account of the Scottish victory at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 (also called the Battle of Chevy Chase)., part of the Scottish/English border wars. James, the “doughty Earl of Douglas,” was one of the leaders on the Scottish side; Sir Henry Percy, nicknamed Hotspur, had been assigned to guard Newcastle (which was, at that time, actually a castle). The day before the actual battle, Douglas and Percy had fought a duel, which Douglas won. A day later, the Scots camped in the woods near Otterburn, but were found and attacked  by the English forces. Douglas was killed during the battle; but the Scots still claimed the victory.

Because the original ballad contains many verses, it has sometimes been shortened for performance. Scottish singing group The Corries have performed the song as “The Lammas Tide,” and their shortened version is marked below. (They repeat the first two stanzas at the end.) We recommend the shortened version for all but the doughtiest ballad singers.

There are various tunes to which the ballad can be sung; but, again, the Corries’ version is probably the most singable.

“Lammastide” or “Lammas Tide” is, more or less, the month of August. There are other Scottish terms used in the ballad, but most of them are self-explanatory.

One more note: The Corries’ shorter version, convenient as it is for singing, seems to imply that proud Percy fell before a Scottish spear before the battle even happened; but that, as stated above, was only the beginning.

Lyrics (As Sung by The Corries)

Now it fell about the Lammas tide
When the muir-men win their hay
The doughty Douglas bound him ride
Into England, to drive a prey

He chose the Gordons and the Graemes
The Lindesays, light and gay
But the Jardines wald nor with him ride
And they rue it to this day

He has burn'd the dales of Tyne
And part of Bambrough shire
Three tall towers on Reidswire fells
He left them all on fire

And he march'd up to Newcastle
And rode it round about
Sayin wha's the lord of this castle?
And wha's the lady o't?

But up spake proud Lord Percy then
And O but he spake hie
I am the lord of this castle
My wife's the lady gaye

If thou'rt the lord of this castle
Sae weel it pleases me
For, 'er I cross the Border fells

Ane o us twa shall dee OR The ane o' us sall dee [One of us two shall die]

He took a lang spear in his hand
Shod with the metal free
And for to meet the Douglas there

He rade right furiously
But oh how pale his lady looked
Frae off the castle wall
When down before the Scottish spear
She saw proud Percy fall

(Corries’ version: repeat the first two stanzas as an ending)

 More Stanzas (Optional)

'Had we twa been upon the green,
And never an eye to see,
I wad hae had you, flesh and fell;
But your sword sall gae wi me.'

'The Otterbourne's a bonnie burn;
'Tis pleasant there to be;
But there is nought at Otterbourne
To feed my men and me.

'The deer rins wild on hill and dale,
The birds fly wild frae tree to tree;
But there is neither bread nor kale
To fend my men and me.

'Yet I will stay at Otterbourne,
Where you shall welcome be;
And, if ye come not at three dayis end,
A fause lord I'll ca thee.

'Thither will I come,' proud Percy said,
'By the might of Our Ladye';
'There will I bide thee' said the Douglas,
'My troth I plight to thee.'

They lighted high on Otterbourne,
Upon the bent sae brown;
They lighted high on Otterbourne,
And threw their pallions down.

And he that had a bonnie boy
Sent out his horse to grass;
And he that had not a bonnie boy
His ain servant he was.

But up then spake a little page,
Before the peep of dawn:
'O waken ye, waken ye, my good lord,
For Percy's hard at hand.'

'Ye lie, ye lie, ye liar loud!
Sae loud I hear ye lie:
For Percy had not men yestreen
To dight my men and me.

'But I have dreamed a dreary dream,
Beyond the Isle of Skye;
I saw a dead man win a fight,
And I think that man was I.'

He belted on his guid braid sword,
And to the field he ran,
But he forgot the helmet good,
That should have kept his brain.

When Percy with the Douglas met,
I wat he was fu fain;
They swakked their swords, till sair they swat,
And the blood ran down like rain.

But Percy with his good broad sword,
That could so sharply wound,
has wounded Douglas on the brow,
Till he fel to the ground.

Then he call'd on his little foot-page,
And said, Run speedilie,
And fetch my ain dear sister's son,
Sir Hugh Montgomery.

'My nephew's good,' the Douglas said,
'What recks the death of ane!
Last night I dreamed a dreary dream,
And I ken the day's thy ain.

'My wound is deep; I fain would sleep;
Take thou the vanguard of the three,
And hide me by the braken-bush,
That grows on yonder lilye lee.

'O bury me by the braken-bush,
Beneath the blooming brier,
Let never a living mortal ken
That ere a kindly Scot lies here.'

He lifted up that noble lord,
Wi the saut tear in his ee;
He hid him in the braken-bush,
That his merrie men might not see.

The moon was clear, the day drew near,
The spears in flinders flew,
But mony a gallant Englishman
Ere day the Scotsmen slew.

The Gordons good, in English blood
They steepd their hose and shoon;
The Lindsays flew like fire about,
Till all the fray was done.

The Percy and Montgomery met,
That either of other were fain;
They swapped swords, and they twa swat,
And aye the blood ran down between.

'Now yield thee, yield thee, Percy,' he said,
'Or else I vow I'll lay thee low!'
'To whom must I yield,' quoth Earl Percy,
'Now that I see it must be so?'

'Thou shalt not yield to lord nor loun,
Nor shalt thou yield to me;
But yeild to the braken-bush,
That grows upon yon lilye lee.'

'I will not yield to a braken-bush,
Nor yet will I yield to a brier;
But I would yield to Earl Douglas,
Or Sir Hugh Montgomery, if he were here.'

As soon as he knew it was Montgomery,
He struck his sword's point in the gronde;
The Montgomery was a courteous knight,
And quickly took him by the honde.

This deed was done at the Otterbourne,
About the breaking of the day;
Earl Douglas was buried at the braken-bush,
And the Percy led captive away. 

Video Link

The Lammas Tide by The Corries

The Ballad of Otterburn, sung by June Tabor (from the album An Echo of Hooves). (This is a different tune from that of The Corries.)

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Folk Song for November 2025: The Rose of Tralee

The Rose of Tralee is a nineteenth-century Irish love song; that much is clear. The authorship, however, has been disputed. A 2019 article written for Tralee Today explains some recent research that gives proper credit to its original author: 

“The disputed Poem ‘Smile, Mary My Darling’ was sent by [Tralee poet William Mulchinock] to British Composer Stephen Ralph Glover in the early 1840s. Glover with help from his brother Charles and poet colleague Spencer took ‘Smile, Mary My Darling’ and adapted it into ‘The Rose of Tralee’ to set it to Music.” 

Mulchinock had written the poem for Mary O’Connor, a maid who worked in his family home. Although his family disapproved of the match, apparently he had gone so far as to propose marriage to her, when disaster struck. Mulchinock was accused of killing a man during a riot (though it appears to have been accidental), and fled to India for some  time. When he returned to Ireland (having been pardoned), the story goes that he was just too late: Mary had died. Although he married another woman and had a family, he continued to grieve for Mary, and over the years he added to his poem. Some of the later lines are:

In the far fields of India, 'mid wars dreadful thunders,
Her voice was a solace and comfort to me,
But the chill hand of death has now rent us asunder,
I'm lonely tonight for the Rose of Tralee.

Mulchinock died in 1864 and was buried beside Mary O’Connor.

The song, as published by Glover and Spencer, continued to be popular over the years. It was used in films (as early as 1929), and was recorded by stars such as Bing Crosby. Those old enough to remember the golden age of television variety shows might enjoy this version by Andy Williams and Maureen O’Hara

Lyrics

(Note: Often just the first two stanzas are sung, sometimes with a repeat of the last few lines.)

The pale moon was rising above the green mountain,

The sun was declining beneath the blue sea;

When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain,

That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,

Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;

Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,

That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

 

The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading,

And Mary all smiling was listening to me;

The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding,

When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee.

Though lovely and fair as the Rose of the summer,

Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;

Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,

That made me love Mary the Rose of Tralee.

 

In the far fields of India, 'mid war's dreadful thunders,

Her voice was a solace and comfort to me,

But the chill hand of death has now rent us asunder,

I'm lonely tonight for the Rose of Tralee.

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,

Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;

Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,

That made me love Mary, The Rose of Tralee 


Video Links

Connie Foley (male voice with what sounds like an accordion)

Joe Lynch (male voice with stringed instrument) 

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline.  

Folk Song for October 2025: On Ilkla (Ilkley) Moor Baht ’at (Without a Hat)

In September, we had hungry ravens ogling a fallen knight. This month, we have a cheerful song about someone who is warned that he might die from not wearing a hat, and who would then be eaten by worms, which are eaten by ducks, and so on. This song is famous in the Yorkshire area of northern England, and it is full of Yorkshire dialect words; but, according to song historian Arnold Kellatt, it may have actually originated in the south. The beginning of the song is actually the hardest part to understand (Where have you been—Ah ha, you’ve been out on the moor with Mary Jane). It gets easier as you go on and the worms, ducks, etc. are introduced. 

Lyrics

There is a full set of lyrics here.

Video Links

Ilkley Moor Baht'at, sung by Melody Thomas Clark. Cheerful, lively, though a bit hard to follow unless you have the words handy. Video includes drawings of the gravedigger, worms, skulls wearing hats, etc. 

Ilkley Moor bar t'at, sung by Wallace House with guitar (from Folkways LP English Folk Songs). Also lively and clearly sung.

On Ilkla Moor Baht’at, sung by “Old Ned.”

For Further Exploration

As explained by Arnold Kellatt, the tune "Cranbrook" was originally written as a hymn tune (and perhaps the Ilkley Moor song was created as a bit of a joke during a choir members' hike). It has also been used for the Christmas hymn "As Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night."

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline.  

Folk Song for September 2025: The Three Ravens

The Three Ravens is one of the oldest folk songs in the AO rotation (oldest in age, not just something we have recommended since the beginning, though that is also true—it was one of the first we ever scheduled). It may seem like a bit of a dark choice to start the school year; and its minor-key tune can be a challenge. On the positive side, even young children can quickly join in with the chorus. We hope that you will give it a try.

As this one does truly qualify as a “folk song”(it is one of the Child Ballads), there are, naturally, variations in the lyrics. There is also a Scottish version, “The Twa Corbies,” which is more gruesome than the English one. (For those with other languages in their backgrounds, you may want to check out the list of translations given on the Wikipedia page.)

We recommend the following set of traditional lyrics. Some notes: The word “lake” is often pronounced “lak.” In the last verse, the unfamiliar word “leman” (sweetheart, lover) can be changed to “loved one” (as in Peter, Paul and Mary’s version, and also the Mary Hopkins video linked below). In the hours of the church, “Prime” means prayers said in the early morning, and “Evensong” is the evening service.

“A fallow doe” could be taken as simply what it sounds like, a female deer about to have a fawn; and, considering the other animals already in the song, that may be enough for many young listeners.  (I remember singing this with our young children many years ago, and the question of the doe’s identity never came up--A.W.) However, this seems to be meant as a euphemism for a pregnant woman, probably the knight’s sweetheart, who would (admittedly) be more able to bury him than a doe.

Lyrics

There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down hey down hey down. [or “Down a down hey down a down”]
They were as black as they might be,
With a down.
Then one of them said to his mate:
"Where shall we our breakfast take?" [or “What shall we for our breakfast take?”]
With a down derry derry derry down down.

Down in yonder greenfield,
Down a down hey down hey down.
There lies a knight slain under his shield;
With a down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet,
So well they their master keep.
With a down derry derry derry down down.

His hawks they fly so eagerly,
Down a down hey down hey down.
There is no fowl dare him come nigh
With a down.
But down there comes a fallow doe,
As great with young as she might go.
With a down derry derry derry down down.

She lifted up his bloody head,
Down a down hey down hey down.
And kissed his wounds that were so red.
With a down.
She got him up upon her back
And carried him to an earthen lake.
With a down derry derry derry down down.

She buried him before the Prime,
Down a down hey down hey down.
She was dead herself ere Evensong time.
With a down.
Now God send every gentleman
Such hounds, such hawks and such a leman.
With a down derry derry derry down down.

Video Links

There Were Three Ravens, from the CD “Watkins Ale: Music of the English Renaissance,” by the Baltimore Consort. Slow, lightly accompanied, and easy to follow. Note, however, that this version has many verses and is over seven minutes long.

The Three Ravens, sung by Libby Thomas with guitar accompaniment.

The Three Ravens, sung by Mary Hopkins, taken from her T.V. series “In the Land of Books.”  This video contains slides of ravens, dead knights and so on; use with discretion.

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 
links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.
These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline. 

Saturday, March 1, 2025

 


Yes, you’re reading this correctly! AmblesideOnline will Celebrate our 25th in ‘26!

AO turns 25 in 2026 - and we are planning our CELEBRATE! conference. It will be at Gatlinburg Convention Center in Gatlinburg, TN, June 4-6, 2026. More details will come in future days, but for now -
Save the Date!