“Twa Corbies,” the Scottish version of “The Three Ravens,” was a Steeleye Span specialty (as well as being an Alfred Deller favorite). Death was more immediate and more present to the singers of
traditional song; it still may be so. In any event, mementi mori, reminders of our eventual end, are everywhere in the tradition.
This track was recorded and mixed by Carr Designs at North Fourth studios.
Lyrics:
As I was walking all alane,
I spied twa corbies makin a mane;
The tane unto the ither did sayo,
“Whar sall we gang and dine thedayo?”
“Doun by yon auld fail dyke,
There lies a new slain knight;
And nane do ken that he lies thereo,
But his hound, his hawk an his lady fairo.”
“His hound is tae the huntin gane,
His hawk tae fetch the wildfowl hame,
His lady’s tain anither mate,
So we may mak oor dinner swate.”
“Ye’ll sit on his white hausebane,
And I’ll pike oot his bonny blue een;
Wi ae lock o his yellow hairo
We’ll theek oor nest whan it grows bareo.”
“Mony a one for him makes mane,
But nane sall ken whar he is gane;
Oer his white banes, whan they are bareo,
The wind sall blaw for evermair.”
(translation):
As I was walking all alone,
I saw three crows (or ravens) making a moan;
One said to the other,
“Where shall we go and dine today?”
“In behind that old turf wall,
There lies a newly slain knight;
And no one knows that he lies there,
But his hawk, his hound and his lady fair.”
“His hound is to the hunting gone,
His hawk to fetch the wildfowl home,
His lady has taken another mate,
So we may make our dinner sweet.”
“You will sit on his white neckbone,
And I’ll peck out his pretty blue eyes;
With one lock of his yellow hair
We’ll thatch our nest when it grows bare.”
“Many a one for him is moaning,
But no one will know where he is gone;
Over his white bones, when they are bare,
The wind will blow for evermore.”