The Crow Song- Levell (Virginia) 1942
[An early title of The Crow Song with identical lyrics (see below at bottom of the page) is found in Songbook of the Harvard Club of San Francisco (CA), 1909. The widespread print sources severly compromise many "traditional versions" because they were learned directly or indirectly from print sources.
R. Matteson 2012]
The Crow Song- James M. Hylton, Wise, Virginia. (Folk Songs & Ballads) 18 Lines 1942. Reprinted in AppLit with permission from the James Taylor Adams Collection University of Virginia's College at Wise/Blue Ridge Institute of Ferrum College; Collected by James M. Hylton in Wise, Virginia
NOTE: This text was recopied directly from a typewritten copy in the archives of the Blue Ridge Institute. James Taylor Adams (1892-1954) kept typewritten copies of the folklore he and others collected during the last thirty years of his life, while he lived in Wise County, VA. Typographical errors in the original have not been corrected, except for some obvious errors in spacing. Note that the informant's account shows how written sources such as family books influenced the oral tradition.
Related to this Writer June 2, 1942, Wise, Virginia, by Mrs. Ethel Levell, mother of two children and who has given other material to this Writer and of whose parents and life this Writer has already submitted a brief but fact History. She learned this Crow Song from an old Irish-Scotch-and English Ballad Book she had in her home for many years. It was handed down to her from some Grandparent but has been misplaced. She recalls the words and lines to it however well enough to recite same below.
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"The Crow Song"- June 2, 1942, Wise, Virginia, by Mrs. Ethel Levell
Listen to a similar version: Peggy Seeger
I. There were three crows sat on a tree,
Oh Billy Ma-gee Ma-gar!
There were three crows sat on a tree,
Oh Billy Ma-gee Maggar!
There were three crows sat on a tree,
And they were black as crows should be
And they all flapped their wings and cried
Caw, Caw, Caw, Billy Ma-gee Ma-gar!
II. Said one old crow unto his mate,
Oh Billy Ma-gee Ma-gar!
Said one old crow unto his mate,
Oh Billy Ma-gee Ma-gar!
Said one old crow unto his mate,
What shall we do for grub to ate?
And they all flapped their wings and cried
Caw, Caw, Caw, Billy Ma-gee Ma-gar.
III. There lies a horse on yonder plain,
Whose by some cruel butcher slain,
IV. We'll perch upon his old backbone,
And pick his eyes out one by one.
And they all flapped their wings and cried
Caw, Caw, Caw, Billy Ma-gee Ma-gar.
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CROW SONG- Songbook of the Harvard Club of San Francisco (CA) 1909
Listen to a similar version: Peggy Seeger
1. There were three crows sat on a tree,
O Billy Magee Magar!
There were three crows sat on a tree,
O Billy Magee Magar!
There were three crows sat on a tree,
And they were black as crows could be,
CHORUS: And they all flapped their wings and cried-
Caw, Caw, Caw,
Billy Magee Magar!
And they all flapped their wings and cried-
Billy Magee Magar!
2. Said one old crow unto his mate,
O Billy Magee Magar!
Said one old crow unto his mate,
O Billy Magee Magar!
Said one old crow unto his mate,
"What shall we do for grub to ate?"
3. "There lies a horse on yonder plain,
O Billy Magee Magar!
"There lies a horse on yonder plain,
O Billy Magee Magar!
"There lies a horse on yonder plain,
Who s by some cruel butcher slain,"
4. "We ll perch ourselves on his backbone,
O Billy Magee Magar!
"We ll perch ourselves on his backbone,
O Billy Magee Magar!
"We ll perch ourselves on his backbone,
And pick his eyes out one by one."
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