Twa Corbies
MacFeck Lyrics
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The tane unto the tithter did say "Whaur shall we gang and dine the day?"
"In behint yon auld fail dyke, I wot there lies a new-slain knight
And nobody kens that he lies there but his hawk and his hound and his lady
fair."
"His hound is to the huntin' gane, his hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
"Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane, and I'll pike out his bonnie blue e'en,
Wi'ae lock o' his gowden hair we'll theek our nest whar it grows bare"
"Mony's the ane for him maks mane, but nane sall ken whar he is gane
Owre his white banes, when they are bare, the wind sall blaw for evermair"
The lyrics of "Twa Corbies" by MacFeck is a Scottish ballad that tells the story of two ravens or crows that are scavenging and seeking out their next meal. As the singer walks down a lane, he hears two birds talking to each other. One of the birds suggests that they have dinner behind a nearby old stone wall where a freshly killed knight lies. They note that only the knight's loyal pets and his lady love know he is there.
The other bird agrees and makes a plan for their meal. They will pick at the bones, the flesh, and even his pretty brown locks. The song seems to be about how little we know about what happens to us after we die. It drives home the idea that no matter who we are, our fate is ultimately the same. We all end up with our bones picked clean and the wind whistling through them when we're gone.
The lyrics have a haunting, ethereal quality that is only amplified by its simple, yet powerful tune. The song can be interpreted in various ways, but the overall meaning is that death is an inevitable part of life, and it comes for everyone regardless of their status or power.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking a' a lane, I heard twa corbies a making their mane.
While strolling down a path, I heard two ravens lamenting their sorrow.
The tane unto the tithter did say 'Whaur shall we gang and dine the day?'
One bird to the other did say, 'Where shall we go to feast today?'
In behint yon auld fail dyke, I wot there lies a new-slain knight And nobody kens that he lies there but his hawk and his hound and his lady fair.'
Behind the old stone wall, I know there lies a knight recently killed. Only his loyal pets and lady know his location.
His hound is to the huntin' gane, his hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, His lady's ta'en another mate, sae we may mak' our dinner sweet.'
His hound is out hunting, his hawk is out capturing prey, and his lady has taken a new companion. We can now have a delicious meal.
Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane, and I'll pike out his bonnie blue e'en, Wi'ae lock o' his gowden hair we'll theek our nest whar it grows bare.'
You will sit on his white breastbone, and I will peck out his beautiful blue eyes. We'll use a lock of his golden hair to patch up our nest where it is wearing thin.
Mony's the ane for him maks mane, but nane sall ken whar he is gane Owre his white banes, when they are bare, the wind sall blaw for evermair.'
Many people grieve for him, but none should know where he is. Over his white bones, when they are bare, the wind will blow forevermore.
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Karan Singh
i dont hate this! excellent adaptation.
Karan Singh
in fact it's quite good!