Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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A bit of “Twa Corbies” - a Scottish folk song originally in the Scots language. This song is a discussion between two crows about how they will tear apart the body of a slain knight who has been abandoned by his hawk, hound and lady. I was always fascinated by the morbidity of this song, but also found its affirmation of the body’s return to nature oddly comforting.

As I was a walkin’ all alaine
I heard twa corbies makin’ mane
The tain antae the tither did say oh
“Where shall we gang and dine the day oh?
Where shall we gang and dine the day?”

In behind yon auld fail dyke
I wot there lies a new slain knight
And naebody kins that he lies there oh,
But his hawk and his hound and his lady fair oh
His hawk and his hound and his lady fair.