There were three rav'ns sat on a tree, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
There were three rav'ns sat on a tree, with a down.
There were three rav'ns sat on a tree.
They were as black as they might be. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

The one of them said to his mate, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
The one of them said to his mate, with a down.
The one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakfast take? With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

Down in yonder green field, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
Down in yonder green field, with a down.
Down in yonder green field,
There lies a knight slain under his shield. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

His hounds they lie down at his feet, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet, with a down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet,
So well they can their master keepe. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

His hawks they fly so eagerly, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
His hawks they fly so eagerly, with a down.
His hawks they fly so eagerly,
There's no fowl dare him come nie. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

Down there comes a fallow doe, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
Down there comes a fallow doe, with a down.
Down there comes a fallow doe,
As great with young as she might go. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

She lift up his bloody hed, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
She lift up his bloody hed, with a down.
She lift up his bloody hed,
And kissed his wounds that that were so red. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

She got him up upon her back, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
She got him up upon her back, with a down.
She got him up upon her back,
And carried him to earthen lake. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

She buried him before the prime, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
She buried him before the prime, with a down.
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herself ere even-song time. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

God send every gentleman, down-a-down, hay down-a-down.
God send every gentleman, with a down.
God send every gentleman,
Such hawks, such hounds, and such a leman. With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.