This is the 'oldest Scottish folk song' - from exactly the area where I live and work, the Scottish Borders. My arrangement is derived from Archie Fisher, Jansch and others but has a different exact melody and accompaniment.
Story behind the song
Twa Corbies - 'the two crows' - is supposed to date from the 13th century. The song, although Scots, is also current south of the Border and the language used in it reflects Northern English just as much as Lowland Scots. This is one of my first recordings made using a 4-track tape in 1996.
Lyrics
As I was walking on my lane
I heard twa corbies makin' a mane
The tane untae the tither did say
Whaur sall we gan tae dine the day?
It's in ahent yon auld fell-dyke (drystone wall)
Ah wot there lies a new-slain knicht
An' nay-one kens that he lies there
Save his hawk, his hoond, an' his lady fair
His hawk has tae the huntin' gaen
His hoond tae fetch the wildfowl hame
His lady's found anither mate
An' we maun mak' oor dinner sae swate (sweet)
An' ye'll sit on his white haus-bane (collar bone)
An' I'll peek oot his bonny blue een (eyes)
An wi' a lock o' his gowden hair
We'll theek (thatch) oor nests whan they grow bare
Mony a ane fer him maks mane (many people lament for him)
But nane sall ken whaur he is gane
An' through his white banes whan they are bare
The wind sall blaw fer ever mair