A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/Nursery Songs/XXVI. THE CARRION CROW

by Sabine Baring-Gould

A carrion crow sat on an old oak,
Fol-de-riddle, lol-de-riddle-hi-ding-do.
Watching a tailor shape his coat:
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow;
Fol-de-riddle, lol-de-riddle-hi-ding-do.
'Wife, bring to me my old crossbow,
Fol-de-riddle, etc.
That I may shoot yon carrion crow;'
Sing he, sing ho, etc.
The tailor shot, and he missed his mark,
Fol-de-riddle, etc.
He shot the miller's sow right through the heart,
Sing he, sing ho, etc.
'Wife! O wife! bring me brandy in a spoon,
Fol-de-riddle, etc.
For the old miller's sow is in a swoon;'
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow;
Fol-de-riddle, lol-de-riddle-hi-ding-do.