Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
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.
1 omitted by Ireland.
2 omitted by Grainger.
3 Grainger: "make"
4 Ravenscroft, Ireland: "him come"
5 Ravenscroft, Ireland: "She lifted"
6 omitted by Grainger and Ireland.
7 omitted by Ravenscroft.
8 Ravenscroft: "hawks, such hounds"
Note: "leman" means 'sweetheart'
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 - 1912), "The three ravens", published 1897 [ voice and piano ], arrangement [sung text not yet checked]
- by Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882 - 1961), "The three ravens" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by John (Nicholson) Ireland (1879 - 1962), "The three ravens", c1920, published 1920 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Thomas Ravenscroft (c1582 - c1635), "The three ravens", published 1611, from Melismata; Musical Fancies fitting the court, city, and country humoursMelismata; Musical Fancies fitting the court, city, and country humours [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Frederic Ayres, Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir, Percy Aldridge Grainger, Ivor Gurney.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Tinelot Wittermans) , "Dutch Translation", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 35
Word count: 232
Er zaten drie raven in een boom Ze waren zo zwart als het maar kon Een van hen zei tegen z'n vrind Waar zullen we ontbijten?" Daarginds in het veld Ligt een ridder onder z'n schild Zijn honden liggen aan z'n voeten Om hun meester te beschermen. Z'n valken vliegen zo onstuimig Dat geen andere vogel hem na durft te komen Daar komt een zwangere hinde Aangelopen. Ze tilde zijn bebloede hoofd op En kuste zijn bebloede wonden Ze zette hem op haar rug En droeg hem naar een droge bedding. Ze begroef hem voor de ochtend metten En zelf stief ze voor de vesper God geve elke edelman Zulke valken, zulke honden en zo'n geliefde.
Authorship:
- Translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © by Tinelot Wittermans, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 117