This is a very old song. It was already an old folk ballad when first transcribed about 400 years ago. It's pretty much what it appears to be, if I'm not mistaken-- just three ravens discussing what they should eat that morning. They consider a slain knight, but he's still attended by his loyal hawk and hounds. His pregnant lover (leman is a sweetheart) bears him away, buries him, and then commits suicide.
It ends with a comment how fortunate the knight was to have such loyal companions.
This is a very old song. It was already an old folk ballad when first transcribed about 400 years ago. It's pretty much what it appears to be, if I'm not mistaken-- just three ravens discussing what they should eat that morning. They consider a slain knight, but he's still attended by his loyal hawk and hounds. His pregnant lover (leman is a sweetheart) bears him away, buries him, and then commits suicide.
It ends with a comment how fortunate the knight was to have such loyal companions.