The Three Ravens - A 17th Century English Folk Song

This old folk song first appeared in a compilation by Thomas Ravenscroft published in 1611. It is thought to originate from an earlier carol, ’Corpus Christi,’ which indicates that it may have it’s original as far back as the 15th Century! The song tells the story of a Knight that has died. His trusty hounds and hawks protect his body from the three ravens, which is then taken and buried by a fallow doe. The doe is thought to be a metaphor for his pregnant lover. The word ’leman’ in the final verse comes from the old English word ’lēofmann’ which means ’beloved’ and came to mean a sweetheart or mistress. The “lover“ then dies of a broken heart. My costume here is based on designs from the mid seventeenth century, contemporary to when this song would have been performed. The location here is The Black Swan in York, Yorkshire, England, and dates back to 1560. I couldn’t help but wonder if this song had been performed here before,