A Carrion Crow sat on an oak
Nursery Rhyme
Lyrics, Origins and History

This old children's nursery rhyme, A carrion crow sat on an oak, has no specific association with history but the carrion crow itself has many connections with Celtic mythology. Irish Goddesses of battle were represented by by the carrion crow and are associated with war and death. The association of the carrion crow with death and war is an obvious reflection of its tendency to eat carrion (carrion means dead and decaying flesh) plenty of which was found in the aftermath of battles..

Picture of a battle scene
- the Carrion Crow is waiting...

A Carrion Crow sat on an oak
Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history

A carrion crow sat on an oak,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
Watching a tailor shape his coat.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.

Wife, bring me my old bent bow,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
That I may shoot yon carrion crow.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.

The tailor he shot and missed his mark,
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho,
And shot his own sow right through the heart.
Sing heigh ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding ho.

A Carrion Crow sat on an oak

Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history

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