CARRION CROW

Collected by Cecil Sharp from Sister Emma, Clewer, Berks 27th February 1909. Verses 5 & 6 modernised by Mary Humphreys

The Carrion Crow sat upon an oak

Fol de rol de rol de ray
The Carrion Crow sat upon an oak
Watching a tailor mending his cloak
Heigh ho,the carrion crow!
Fol de rol de rol de ray

O wife o wife bring me my bow
That I may shoot this carrion crow

The tailor shot and missed his mark
and he shot his old sow right through the heart

O wife o wife bring some brandy in a spoon
For our old sow's fallen down in a swoon

Oho said his wife,you're a silly old man1
To kill your old sow and not care a damn2

Oho said the tailor I don't care a damn2
For we'll have pork-pie, sausages and ham3

Oh the old sow died and the bell did toll
and the little pigs squeaked for the old sow's soul


1originally "goose"
2originally "mouse
3originally "hog pie, chitterlings and souse"

As sung by Mary Humphreys on album "Sharp Practice" (Wild Goose WGS 312CD)
From Mary Humphreys and Anahata's web site http://www.treewind.co.uk/mha/lyrics