A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/The Carrion Crow

by Sabine Baring-Gould

For other versions of this work, see The Carrion Crow.

XXVI. THE CARRION CROW

 

A carrion crow sat on an 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.