There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down hey down hey down.
[And]1 they were [as]2 black as they might be,
With a down.
Then one of them said to his [mate]3:
"Where shall we 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 [can]1 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 [come him]4 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.

[O she lifts]5 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]6 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]7 God send every gentleman
Such [hounds, such hawks]8 and such a leman.
With a down derry derry derry down down.