The Carrion Crow is native to the temperate climates found in eastern (southern UK - Germany and down though Spain) and western (areas west of the Kara Sea but north of the Himalayas) Europe. They're confined to these areas due to the lack of food available between and to the south of these areas.
Needless to say, a large army of foot soldiers would provide an easy food source in the waste left behind when they broke camp to march on. While the crows fed on the waste and carcasses of large game the soldiers hunted for food by forward parties preparing a forward camp, scout crows would eat their fill then head out to track their food source and return. Hence, "Sometimes we'd glimpse a shadow falling, the shadow would disappear."
As the army neared the enemy front and hesitated to rest from the march before battle, the crows would give the army's location away to enemy scouts as they flew in the cool of the night to roost at their next meal (though the soldiers perceived them as 'dark clouds' apparently). Knowing the location of the approaching army, the well-rested enemy could easily use the element of surprise to prepare "the feast of a crow."
After the feast, the crows would make their way back north where they could feed naturally on the local fauna. This is likely how the species came to inhabit their two distinct regions of Eurasia.
No doubt stories and written accounts from the middle-ages (if not earlier) exist, but Sting prides himself as a talented writer and would rather "Summer's Tales" maintain the mystic air of originality. While I do enjoy the tune, it seems more like a story written by someone whose father (a Captain) and troops were ambushed during the Crown's preoccupation with the occupation of the birthplace of Christianity ("marched so far") rendered into obscurity with purposefully vague lyrics and aesthetic over-dubbed vocal embellishments. In any case, I wasn't expecting history lessons or biographies when I bought the CD so I enjoy "Something the Boy Said" for the song that it is (even though Sting doesn't/can't/won't perform it on stage).
The Carrion Crow is native to the temperate climates found in eastern (southern UK - Germany and down though Spain) and western (areas west of the Kara Sea but north of the Himalayas) Europe. They're confined to these areas due to the lack of food available between and to the south of these areas.
Needless to say, a large army of foot soldiers would provide an easy food source in the waste left behind when they broke camp to march on. While the crows fed on the waste and carcasses of large game the soldiers hunted for food by forward parties preparing a forward camp, scout crows would eat their fill then head out to track their food source and return. Hence, "Sometimes we'd glimpse a shadow falling, the shadow would disappear."
As the army neared the enemy front and hesitated to rest from the march before battle, the crows would give the army's location away to enemy scouts as they flew in the cool of the night to roost at their next meal (though the soldiers perceived them as 'dark clouds' apparently). Knowing the location of the approaching army, the well-rested enemy could easily use the element of surprise to prepare "the feast of a crow."
After the feast, the crows would make their way back north where they could feed naturally on the local fauna. This is likely how the species came to inhabit their two distinct regions of Eurasia.
No doubt stories and written accounts from the middle-ages (if not earlier) exist, but Sting prides himself as a talented writer and would rather "Summer's Tales" maintain the mystic air of originality. While I do enjoy the tune, it seems more like a story written by someone whose father (a Captain) and troops were ambushed during the Crown's preoccupation with the occupation of the birthplace of Christianity ("marched so far") rendered into obscurity with purposefully vague lyrics and aesthetic over-dubbed vocal embellishments. In any case, I wasn't expecting history lessons or biographies when I bought the CD so I enjoy "Something the Boy Said" for the song that it is (even though Sting doesn't/can't/won't perform it on stage).
JB