Lyrics and translation Libera - Three Ravens

Three Ravens

There were three ravens sat on a tree
Down a down, hey down, down a down
They were as black might be
With a down, down, down
The one of them said to his mate
"Where shall we our breakfast take?"
With a down, derry, derry down, down

Down in yonder green field
Down a down, hey down, down a down
Their lies a knight slain under his shield
With a down, down, down
His hounds they lie down at his feet
So well they do their master keep
With a down, derry, derry down, down

His hawks they fly so eagerly
Down a down, hey down, down a down
No other fowl dare him come nigh
With a down, down, down
Down there comes a fallow doe
As heavy with young as she might go
With a down, derry, derry down, down

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

She buried him before the prime
A derry
She was dead herself ere even-song time
God send every gentleman
Such hawks, such hounds, and such leman

Trois corbeaux

Il y avait trois corbeaux perchés sur un arbre
Down a down, hey down, down a down
Ils étaient aussi noirs que possible
With a down, down, down
L'un d'eux dit à son compagnon
« Où allons-nous prendre notre petit-déjeuner ?»
With a down, derry, derry down, down

Là-bas, dans ce champ verdoyant
Down a down, hey down, down a down
Gît un chevalier tué sous son bouclier
With a down, down, down
Ses chiens sont allongés à ses pieds
Si bien qu'ils gardent leur maître
With a down, derry, derry down, down

Ses faucons volent si impétueusement
Down a down, hey down, down a down
Aucun autre oiseau n'ose s'approcher de lui
With a down, down, down
Là arrive une biche
Aussi lourde de petits qu'elle peut l'être
With a down, derry, derry down, down

Elle releva sa tête ensanglantée
Down a down, hey down, down a down
Et baisa ses blessures qui étaient si rouges
With a down, down, down
Elle le mit sur son dos
Et le porta au lac de terre
With a down, derry, derry down, down

Elle l'enterra avant le matin
A derry
Elle était elle-même morte avant le crépuscule
Que Dieu envoie à chaque gentilhomme
De tels faucons, de tels chiens et une telle maîtresse