Three Old Crows- Burgess (Va.) c.1860/1916 Sharp A
[From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Sharp-Campbell I, 1916 p. 32 and Sharp-Karpeles I, 1932. This two verse fragment appears as Sharp A as "The Three Ravens" with music and Davis I as "The Three Crows." Burgess forgot the lyrics to the refrain remembering only the first three words, "Poor old crow..."
Here are Davis's full notes: Version I. "The Three Crows." Collected by Mr. Cecil J. sharp. Sung by Mr. Ben Burgess (76), at Charlottesville, Va. Arbemarle County September 29, 1916. With music. "This fragment was learnt by the singer when a boy, from the singing of his great-grandfather, an Italian, Genini, who was brought to this country by Thomas Jefferson upon the conclusion of the latter's term in Paris, for the purpose of of introducing Italian methods of viticulture into America.
Mr. Ben Burgess could not remember the words of the refrain which follow each couplet, but was sure it began with 'Poor old crow' (Mr. Sharp)." Printed by Campbell and Sharp, p. 32.
Clearly this version dates back to around 1860 when Burgess was a boy.
R. Matteson 2014]
Three Old Crows- Burgess (Va.) 1916 Sharp A
1. Three old crows at on a tree,
Just as black as they could be.
Poor old crow . . . .
2. The old crow says to his mate
What shall we do for meat to eat?
Poor old crow . . . .