The Twa Corbies

The Twa Corbies (Scottish Version of this anonymous ballad )

As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies makin a mane; The tane unto the ither say, "Whar sall we gang and dine the-day?"

"In ahint yon auld fail dyke, I wot there lies a new slain knight; And nane do ken that he lies there, But his hawk, his hound an his lady fair."

"His hound is tae the huntin gane, His hawk tae fetch the wild-fowl hame, His lady's tain anither mate, So we may mak oor dinner swate."

"Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane, And I'll pike oot his bonny blue een; Wi ae lock o his gowden hair We'll theek oor nest whan it grows bare."

"Mony a one for him makes mane, But nane sall ken whar he is gane; Oer his white banes, whan they are bare, The wind sall blaw for evermair."

The Two Crows ( translation into standard English).

As I was walking all alone, I heard two crows (or ravens) making a moan; One said to the other, "Where shall we go and dine today?"

"In behind that old turf wall, I sense there lies a newly slain knight; And nobody 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 wild-fowl home, His lady's has taken another mate, So we may make our dinner sweet."

"You will sit on his white neck-bone, And I'll peck out his pretty blue eyes; With one lock of his golden hair We'll thatch our nest when it grows bare."

"Many a one for him is moaning, But nobody will know where he is gone; Over his white bones, when they are bare, The wind will blow for evermore."