Songs to Know #5: Carrion Crow

Carrion crow, sitting on an oak,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

He called for a tailor to cut him a coat,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

Refrain:

Hi falero gil fin a garo,

Hi falero gil fina a gay.

Up jumped Johnny a-ringing of his bell,

With a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

Wife, O wife, bring hither my bow,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

That I may shoot this carrion crow.

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

Refrain

The tailor shot and he missed his mark,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

And shot the old sow bang through his heart,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

Refrain

Wife, O wife, bring brandy in a spoon,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

Thewith a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

old sow's fallen down with a swoon,

Refrain

The old sow died and the bells did toll,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

And the little pigs squeaked for the old sow's soul,

with a ling dong dilly dol kiro me.

Refrain

This is a Tennessee nonsense song. It was originally collected by Cecil Sharp. It can be found in Cecil Sharp's "Seventeen Nursery Songs from the Appalachian Mountains" and later in "Hi! Ho! The Rattlin' Bog and Other Folk Songs for Group Singing" by John Langstaff. There are many versions of this song with a variety of nonsense refrains.