Three Ravens / Traditional Folk Song / Banjo

The Three Ravens is a traditional folk song from jolly olde England and is over 400 years old. Thomas Ravenscroft collected and preserved this song in 1611. I think the first version of this song I remember hearing was by, Peter, Paul and Mary. I came up with this banjo arrangement which basically just follows the melody.

The Three Ravens lyrics and chords

Am Dm E
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Am F C E7
Down-a-down, hey down-a-down.
Am G C E
They were black as they might be, with a down.
C E
The one of them said to his mate,
Am E7
"What shall we for our breakfast take?"
Am Dm E E7 Am
With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

Three Ravens
(Peter Paul & Mary)

There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down-a-down, hey down-a-down. They were black as
they might be, with a down. The one of them said
to his mate, "What shall we for our breakfast
take?" With a down, derry, derry, derry, down,
down.

Down in yonder green field, Down-a-down, hey
down-a-down, Lies a knight slain under his
shield, with a down. Down there comes a fallow
doe, As great with young as she might go. With a
down, derry, derry, derry, down, down.

She lifted up his bloody head, Down-a-down, hey
down-a-down. Kissed his wounds that were so red,
with a down. She got him up across her back, And
carried him to the earthen lack, With a down,
derry, derry, derry, down, down.

She buried him before his prime, Down-a-down,
hey down-a-down. She was dead herself 'ere
evening time, with a down. God send every
gentleman Fine hawks, fine hounds, and such a
loved one, With a down, derry, derry, derry,
down, down.