Crow on the Cradle

Original Song by Sydney Carter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8x0uMV1EsY)

Varushkan version

Lyrics and arrangement by Jude Reid and Daisy Abbott

Crow on the cradle, the wind and the storm Now is the time for a child to be born He'll laugh at the moon and he'll cry for the sun And play in the sunlight when winter is done

Sang the crow on the cradle

But winter is hard and the snow it is deep The frost and the hunger will keep him from sleep You'll strive and you'll suffer but day after day The winter will take your sweet baby away

Sang the crow on the cradle

The crow on the cradle the snow in the sky Somebody's baby is born just to die Crow on the cradle, the cruel wind's sting Somebody's baby will not see the spring

Sang the crow on the cradle Sang the crow on the cradle Your mother and father they'll sweat and they'll save To build you a coffin and dig you a grave Hush little baby now never you weep I've got a song that will put you to sleep

Sang the crow on the cradle

Oh crow on the cradle I'll weave him a charm I'll guard him and watch him and keep him from harm My cloak I will give him to cover his bed And I will go hungry to see my child fed

Oh the crow on the cradle

Crow on the cradle, the wind and the storm I'll rock him and hold him and keep my child warm The lamps we will light and the hearth fires we'll burn Oh crow on the cradle you'll never return

Oh you crow on the cradle Oh you crow on the cradle (rpt)

Navarr version

New lyrics by David Proctor

The summer is ending, the brokers weigh corn Now is the time for a child to be born She'll laugh at the trees and cry without fear And if she's a Thorn she'll carry a spear Sang the crow on the cradle

And if it should be that this baby's a Vate Never you mind if she shares Navarr's fate With blood on her fingers and and a knife in her hands And the Vallorn behind her wherever she stands Sang the crow on the cradle

And when it should be that the child takes the Brand They'll dance along with her and with her they'll stand With a scar on her cheekbone And a suit of dark maille And before her the ruins of Terunael Sang the crow on the cradle

The crow on the cradle, the husks in the night Somebody's baby is born to our fight The crow on the cradle, the green and the black Somebody's baby is not coming back Sang the crow on the cradle

Your striding or steading will sweat and they'll fight To hold back the vines that creep in the night Hush-a-bye little one, never you weep The corpse glade is ready for when you should sleep Sang the crow on the cradle

Bring me my bow, and I'll shoot that bird dead That's what Navarr and Thorn long ago said The crow on the cradle, what can we do? Ah, this is a thing that I'll leave up to you Sang the crow on the cradle

The crow on the cradle the husks in the night Somebody's baby is born for our fight The crow in the cradle, the cities of dust One day we'll take back all that we have lost Sang the crow on the cradle