Chill Wind

[With the sudden return  of chill and wintry weather,  we post this;

 for Spring has not yet won her definitive victory.]

In winter time when the north winds blow

     and the winter winds  blow keenly

Two ravens sat amidst the snow

     and the winter winds  blow cold

"In yonder cottage lives a lad"

     and the winter winds  blow keenly

"He's dying of the love he had"

and the winter winds  blow cold

Then it's Ho for the western ocean,

and Ho  for rovers bold

God grant us space and peace and place

for the winter wind blows cold

'Tis winter and the winds blow hard

and the winter winds  blow keenly

Two ravens sat without the yard

     and the winter winds  blow cold

"He pines and moans  upon the thorn"

and the winter winds  blow keenly

"And sighs for the maid who did him scorn"

     and the winter winds  blow cold

Then it's Ho for the western ocean,

and Ho  for rovers bold

God grant us space and peace and place

for the winter wind blows cold

When embers died within the grate

and the winter winds  blow keenly

two ravens sat upon the gate

     and the winter winds  blow cold

"In all the lands that Christ doth rule

and the winter winds  blow keenly

was there e'er a maiden half so cruel?"

     and the winter winds  blow cold

Then it's Ho for the western ocean,

and Ho  for rovers bold

God grant us space and peace and place

for the winter wind blows cold

Two ravens lingered, black as night

     and the winter winds  blow keenly

and all amid the snow so white.

     and the winter winds  blow cold

"In all the lands where the wind blows loud"

     and the winter winds  blow keenly

"there never was  a maid so proud."

     and the winter winds  blow cold

Then it's Ho for the western ocean,

and Ho  for rovers bold

God grant us space and peace and place

for the winter wind blows cold

The first bird to the second said

and the winter winds  blow keenly

"What may we do to rest his head?"

     and the winter winds  blow cold

The second to the first intones

and the winter winds  blow keenly

"What might we try, t' avenge his bones?"

     and the winter winds  blow cold

Then it's Ho for the western ocean,

and Ho  for rovers bold

God grant us space and peace and place

for the winter wind blows cold

"We'll pluck her eyes out from her head

and the winter winds  blow keenly

and shade her grave when she lies dead."

     and the winter winds  blow cold

"We'll soothe him with a mournful sound

     and the winter winds  blow keenly

and croak a dirge when she's in the ground."

     and the winter winds  blow cold

Then it's Ho for the western ocean,

and Ho  for rovers bold

God grant us space and peace and place

for the winter wind blows cold