Magpie - The Unthanks - LYRICS

[@samisticlife]

Thanks Vera season 14 for bringing me here

[@Oliver-uk3tc]

Me too lol

[@PetraB]

And me 😊

[@briankeen5727]

Me three.

[@Storel]

Yup. 😅

[@TwinkleRosemusic]

Same here! Awesome!

[@moragmckay3779]

Just heard this in Vera. I knew I'd loved it before but it had slipped my mind. Beautiful song.

[@JanOMalley-n9d]

Yes!! Took awhile to find the artist .. hauntingly beautiful!

[@chrisclassical7]

me too

[@beverlykandraceffinger3764]

...this song joins my repertoire for a cappella singing, having heard it first from this surprising source. So very mysterious and beautiful, and to hear the Unthanks sing in such beautiful harmony...captivating,

[@Jasmine-ur1sl]

Me too. I heard this in the last scenes of "Vera" Season 14, Episode 1 and was haunted by the lyrics and had to search it here.

[@seaofglass77]

Terry Pratchett did research on the Magpie Song for one of his books on the Witches. He found no fewer than 30 variations, perhaps more.

[@serafinasmith209]

No shit. I am sitting on the bus right now, listening to this song. Next to me I have a book... the witches trilogy by Terry Pratchett. Out of all the songs I could've chosen...

[@renatewalleitis5161]

I love the stories of Terry Pratchett....

[@heatherandgorse6889]

Love this. Do you know which book?

[@jasediego7055]

Instablaster...

[@MsDormy]

Serafina - serendipity at work!

[@Arianrhod323]

Hauntingly beautiful. I miss The Detectorists.

[@joe6419]

hold it

[@trixie8009]

I rewatching it now , love it ❤😊

[@cindyamcbride]

me too…

[@viciouslyv2630]

Love that show

[@eugenesamusenko4525]

Thank you True Detective for one more brilliant unknown song!

[@Woods4Life]

Makes me feel like I just found a severed tongue!

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

Yes, quite the story attached to this piece of writing. I found it. so fascinating as I had never heard of it so of course I was excited to have found it. Its meaning runs deep. We like things like this that expand one's mind. Exercise your mind, (don't waste it sending spam) like you do the rest of your muscles & I do just that.

[@CatBlackGuitars]

And Detectorists!

[@sif_2799]

In Germany there's the belief that magpies steal anything that has silver colour. When I was a kid and we were eating in the garden I would always guard the cutlery xD

[@netowarosekai7085]

My Mom has once lost a Kind of brooch while we were Out for a Walk and a magpie brought it Back and Stopper it in Our Garden, but i was also raised with the believe that magpies are "thieves" that Steak anything that glitters

[@visesinangijala]

We have that belief in Sweden too! As there’s a lot of magpies where I live I would always guard anything that was shiny so it wouldn’t be taken by the magpies.

[@Raventooth]

Males steal it to impress females

[@marklar5334]

I like Glitter on my steak too. I thought I was the only one!

[@MrDaiseymay]

Magpie nests have been found with many bright sparkling items of jewelry, gold and silver ,AND bit's of broken mirror etc

[@cutlery9831]

Strangely enough, magpies are one of the handful of species on earth that can recognize its reflection as itself.

[@jacquelinewandler3387]

They've beaten half of humankind after a night of revelery

[@mr.whiskers3283]

I've always wondered about that. Like a house cat for instance, what if they did the test by putting a red dot on a cat, and the cat thinks to itself, "Oh, the human is decorating me now." Like what if it doesn't care and therefore we think it doesn't understand?

[@1LivelyRogue]

Give me a link.

[@cutlery9831]

@@1LivelyRogue I assume you mean source; here's one: Prior H, Schwarz A, Güntürkün O. Mirror-induced behavior in the magpie (Pica pica): evidence of self-recognition. PLoS Biol. 2008 Aug 19;6(8):e202. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060202. PMID: 18715117; PMCID: PMC2517622.

[@sarahblackman5529]

More wise than any owl

[@CailinRuaAnChead]

Our neighbours used to have a huge Ash tree in their garden with three families of magpies living in it. They were very noisy and very funny! (and also clever, I used to feed them and they would know if I was coming to feed them or just put out the washing or w/e) and they cut the tree down. I really miss those cool little birds! They all had different characters. The youngest from the highest nest was a cheeky wee fella!

[@andy-the-gardener]

3 magpie nests in one tree? never gonna happen. not our pica pica, a highly territorial, quaralsome crow. maybe you be talking about the unrelated australian bird. and pica pica, being cunning, always nests in the thorn bush not the ash

[@allgodsnomasters2822]

half of wild animals have died in the last 50 years

[@Detectingnorthyorkshire]

Full of shite hahahaha

[@Becci1066]

We had magpies that would sit in our silver birch. If there was more than one or two they would fight or put on a display if it was a mixed gathering, especially in the spring.

[@nin9249]

Curse those who cut it down may they all lose their homes too. As the lore goes , back on them threefold

[@batmannewyork]

My mother had a pet magpie as a child (this was the 1930's/40's and the bird was a rescued nestling), which mother allowed to fly free but it would go with her to school (the bird would ride with my mother on her horse - mom rode a horse to school), wait for her in trees outside and fly to her at the end of the day to go home with her, though mother told me that as the weather warmed, if the school opened the windows for spring/summer, the magpie would fly in, alight on my mother's desk and make a nuisance of itself, as magpies do - evidently the bird loved to steal pencils! My family is Irish and my grandmother LOVED magpies so she encouraged my mother's pet! What she always told us was that if you see a magpie you must always tell the bird hello, ask after his/her family and treat the bird with love and respect so as to avoid sorrow! Also, the UnThanks is a fab band!

[@synnesilentweb]

that's an incredible story! when I'm older, I want to take my kids to school on horses :)

[@nevergrowingupnevergetting7352]

"Hello Mr. Magpie. How's Mrs. Magpie?" I still do it.

[@fredtedstedman]

we were told to greet them with the time of day " good morning Mr Magpie , good afterenoon etc if ther's more than one go onto Mrs , Master and Miss ! I always do this , I regularly have them in the garden which is very open so a lot of birds wont come to feed . love them .!

[@Jellyroll66]

Beautiful story, love it

[@Ramen.Butterbeard]

I salute you my bird. Every time.

[@MsDefender2010]

We just sang this beautiful song during our last concert with the Love Music Community Choir at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh a week ago. There are around ,300 of us and it was incredibly great 🤩🤩🤩

[@peggyberrey1908]

Beautiful, haunting song. You do it well!

[@psyyche7331]

this reminds me of an old tradition from the french countryside- if one saw one magpie it foreshadowed disappointment, if there were two it meant accomplishment, and if there were three, it meant hardships would come. (for anyone interested in the saying: 'une pie, tant pis ; deux, tant mieux; trois, malheur!')

[@decembrw]

Wow je suis française et je savais même pas, merci !

[@diaztriwardhana3077]

@@decembrw je suis une francophone aussi and i am glad my french is good enough to understand the saying

[@mutanderyt9811]

My French friend says "tant pis" translates as "never mind"

[@MelancholischerMond]

Watching an old episode of Detectorists made me come here. Just my cup of tea.

[@thisoneguy8659]

You catch university challenge last night?

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

Night Country brought me here. Now this will blow up as this song resonates through episode #1 A Fantastic rendition of this fable/rhyme!

[@dlittlester]

We have lots of crows and ravens here, but no magpies. What we do have in winter, is Steller's Jays, which are similar to Blue Jays, but a bit different. I put peanuts out for them and they take turns coming for them. They are amazing birds. They come to my window where they know I am, and make themselves known, wanting to be fed. They are like pets.

[@nairbvel]

Jays are corvids (along with crows, ravens, jackdaws, magpies, and nutcrackers. The corvidae are considered some of the most intelligent birds regardless of which genus or species is looked at. We used to have massive flocks of crows in my area but there was an overwhelming die-off a few years back when the West Nile virus reached this part of the U.S. -- luckily, the crow population has been recovering and while their flocks aren't yet casting huge shadows they are once again common and are working to re-take their territory from other species that moved into their niche. (Although the grackles & jays are putting up quite the fight, it seems...)

[@marthareis5873]

This is such a hauntingly beautiful performance, gives me shivers. It makes the scene in The Detectorists just spectacular. Thank you!

[@Feezee223]

It’s more haunting if you play it at 0.5 speed

[@katharinemcchane7277]

That is where I heard it too. I stopped and dropped. It has never left me. Being of Irish decent, it is like it speaks to me. Haunts me.

[@lizreeves8207]

I was so taken by this song I had to look for it on KZbin. It touches something deep and undefined. And the way it was done in the Detectorists was brilliant.

[@pineapplepenumbra]

The Unthanks also did the theme tune to the updated "Worzel Gummidge" (also by and with MacKenzie Crook): kzbin.info/www/bejne/javYaH-BZsiVpaM

[@StellaMoon60]

I first heard it on Detectorists too, and I was just smitten.

[@ziggygasroversf.c2716]

My favourite bird of all time. Had 3 Magpies as pets when I was at school. The first was rescued and became very tame. I gave it the name 'Eyas' (Eyasses) The name for a young Peregrine Falcon. It would even follow me to school. After having it for over a year we took it back to the place I found it & let it fly free. After 2 weeks we went back, called it's name & within seconds it landed on my shoulder, unbelievably. Pica Pica, a beautiful & intelligent bird.

[@minomushi9392]

I was brought up with a slightly different rhyme about crows, not magpies. 1 for sorrow 2 for mirth 3 for marriage 4 for birth 5 for laughing 6 for crying 7 for sickness 8 for dying 9 for silver 10 for gold 11 for a secret never to be told

[@ryanfarrell5307]

Minomushi I was always brought up with this rhyme and always thought it only applied to magpies. Then earlier today my cousin from England said the rhyme but talking about jackdaws. And now you’re telling me it also applies to crows? How have I lived so many years and never heard about this and then two absolute bombshells are dropped on the same day? Am I ranting on a nursery rhyme about birds? Is it 3 am already? I should probably go to sleep

[@spaghettiyeti7097]

I also grew up with the crow one

[@katiejaneh8562]

Same here!

[@spectralumbra1568]

It was originally used for magpies, but other black birds have been substituted for magpies in areas where magpies are less common.

[@void4283]

I grew up with this one, and the one in the video, but I'd only heard it used for counting crows before, not magpies

[@SageIsHere11]

"The preist he says we're wicked, but to worship the devils bird ah but we respect the old ways and we disregard his word."

[@PaddyWolfe]

it's about time someone said something nice about magpies

[@pattheplanter]

@@PaddyWolfe In China the magpie is a symbol of good luck and joy, Also married bliss. Magpies form a bridge to allow the two star-crossed lovers Zhinu and Niulang to reunite for one day in the year among the stars. Barry Hughart wrote a book called Bridge of Birds that included that legend. You seldom see a single magpie, as they are a very gregarious bird. So even in Britain they are seldom unlucky and usually a bringer of joy. Some people moan about magpies eating young birds, but do they hate cats who kill so many more? Magpies can be taught to talk. They look so damn smart. They leave the occasional iridescent feather shining against the rain-soaked asphalt to brighten everyone's day, making it look like a shiny blue angel has passed by. Also, we would be knee deep in kebabs and pizza in most cities if the magpies didn't tidy up. There are many good things to say about magpies.

[@evan_m_l]

YES

[@JustMe-jj7xr]

Witches

[@probablysatan..5776]

​@@JustMe-jj7xrmy dad called me 'The Grand Witch of (country name here) ' and I will forever carry that title with me lol

[@resourcedragon]

Such a close-up, detailed photograph makes it clear that while there is a similar-ish sort of bird in Australia, they are not the same species. (Do a search of Images Australian magpie.) The Australian magpie is very clever, sings in tune and has a "laugh". (It's not quite as spectacular as the kookaburra's laugh but it's still a nice sound.) The Australian magpie is famous for swooping on people during their nesting season, and they are big enough that they can do some damage. However, they also can tell people apart and they know who the friendly ones are and they can remember the unfriendly ones for up to 5 years. Both parents are needed to raise young magpies. When the young are close to leaving the nest the young magpies may actually be a little larger than their parents and it is funny to see a bird that is larger than its parents following them around squeaking like a baby bird as they search for insects (especially as, by that stage, they are also pecking at insects on their own!)

[@fairie2653]

I just learnt today Australian Magpies and European Magpies are from two completely different families. I always thought the Maggies in Australia were realted to Ravens and Crows in the Corvidae family, turns out i was completely wrong!

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@fairie2653 Obviously---when the first Brits arrived in ANY new country, they named alsorts of things , from Places /Cities, to Birds, after their homeland equivalents . The Australian Bird is clearly close enough, to call it a magpie. Best example I can think of, ( although the likeness is poor) is the North American ''ROBIN '', which is more than twice the size of the English one, and not marked anything like it. It has RED feather's on it's chest. It was just a comforter, for Sailors FAR from home.

[@catzkeet4860]

The connection with the European Magpie goes deeper than feathers with magpies tho. I’m from NZ and the Australian Magpie is common here too. They’re commonly kept as pets here, or at least used to be when lots more people farmed. Like the European magpie, the Australian magpie like shiny things and will thieve. They’re very smart and they’re great mimics both of human speech and other sounds. Much bigger than the European magpie tho, closer to a jackdaw in size. i like them......it’s part of the country I’m used to, hearing magpies warbling in the trees.

[@crowrosive]

the bird in the photo is a European magpie and a true corvids whilst Australian magpies are not corvids but related to shrikes I believe the term magpie is used to describe several variations of the corvid family a family which includes ravens crows and jays and corvids in general are highly intelligent birds and able to pass the mirror test too, the Australian Maggie is the odd one out here but still a lovely bird

[@2big]

their fueds with specific people can run longer than 5 years - it can be passed down through generations. each mob has their own unique songs, and if you're ever lucky enough to witness a magpie war, their warcries are epic, and once one mob has been driven off, the victors' song is epic

[@editwell9532]

The detectorists brought me here. Can't believe I've only just heard of this amazing program. Love its soundtrack

[@alihommel458]

Check out Johnny Flynn if you haven’t before - amazing music and actor ❤

[@witnessme4352]

Detectorists brought me here! Gives me chills.

[@julieblackstock8650]

and me!

[@katharinemcchane7277]

Me too. Has haunted me since I heard it on Detectorists when falcon whistle was found!

[@crwydryn]

Watching these entertaining birds flying around my garden in this pandemic has kept me going in my solitude, I see them as my wild pets and feed them meal worms every morning. I love this haunting performance by the Unthanks. Bravo.

[@cavecrow6820]

I always come back to this song, it’s hauntingly beautiful. The three voices kind of remind me of the maiden, the mother, and the crone. Just a weird connection I get.

[@hannahhicks9876]

My personal opinion. To light up ones day. A single sorrow blooms an array of joy. We need sadness to understand happiness.

[@agricolaest]

Sad songs seem more powerful. I have always preferred them.

[@ramonalione4024]

Gorgeous unique harmonies, and a powerful sense of mystery and foreboding.

[@stephengoodwin9150]

Old English Nursery Rhyme around 1780 from Lincolnshire England.

[@NancySimonds]

Thank you to True Detective that introduced me to this song. The harmony is so wonderful it gives me chills!❤❤

[@silverarrow2353]

I know my Grandmother would also have loved this song...miss her

[@catboyneilcicierega]

I’m so sorry... I miss my grandma too... she is looking at you from Heaven and smiling.

[@kimhicks8443]

What beautiful singing. Thank you ladies.

[@malicant123]

I once found a magpie in the woods who was dazed. I'm not sure what was wrong with it, but I picked it up and took it to the side of the trail. It seemed to sober up, but before it flew away, it looked directly at me and jerked its head. I like to think that it was thanking me. By the way, magpies have beautifully soft plumage.

[@frazermcewen7252]

All my life I have saluted the single magpie....they have been part of my life and continue to be so....🙏

[@kiakis567]

Ευχαριστούμε Καρπά ❤

[@katharinemcchane7277]

This is hauntingly beautiful. Heard it on Detectorists too! Wow! The harmony is incredible.

[@Ciara1594]

In China the Magpie is called the Bird of Joy, because they help the Spinning Maid to join her husband the Cowherd, by building a bridge with their bodies so the Spinning Maid can cross the River.

[@novembersun122]

I absolutely, deeply love this channel. Thank you. Really. Thank you for every song, every lullaby, every melody you upload, 'cause they speak to my heart, and many of them are really difficult to find, here where I live.

[@Izzy-fv1ng]

I always salute when I see magpies. My Nannan salutes and says "good morning Mr magpie, how are you and how is your family". Counting magpies has been a tradition I've kept all my life and this song is such a nice way to talk about it.

[@chrisdancer8609]

I've heard that you should always greet a magpie politely because it may be the Devil in disguise and you don't want to get on the wrong side of him, which ties in with the words of the song.

[@theotheseaeagle]

@@chrisdancer8609 I always assumed it was just something dating back to before corvids were so demonised. They were revered by early pre-Christian Northern European cultures as messengers from different deities, they only really became popularly associated with death or the devil when these areas became Christianised. The same goes for superstitions surrounding cats. I’ve always been taught black cats for instance are good luck whilst most people hold the belief they are bad luck.

[@aquadraws5833]

ı remember seeing a magpie one morning just staring towards me across the street. They're pretty rare to see in my area so I was pretty excited about it. That evening my great grandma passed away. Years later I found out about this ryhme and it gives me chills whenever I think about it.

[@JustMe-jj7xr]

I recently moved and went from never having seen a magpie in my life to seeing great amounts daily

[@bobbyjohnston7857]

Respect from the Celtic Pagans of Eire. Keep our old songs true and believe in the words of the old paths. Teach our children of the old paths and beliefs. Slainte agus Saoirse.

[@YorkyOne]

What's this got to do with Irish 'Celtic pagans'?

[@sarahgray430]

I know this song with slightly different words. The count goes up to 10, and there's no bit about the priest or about it being specifically about magpies...in fact,I was always told that the oracular bird in question was the raven! I suppose different areas have different versions of the song, and since my ancestors came from Scotland and the part of England known as the Danegeld, it may have had a Norse origin.

[@blainepauls]

Aye, yet even a raven needs a mentor ; < )

[@Edward-ry1jk]

this song is based on original rhyme which does go up to 10. this song features some of the rhyme but not all of it, and lots of the lyrics have been added in by the unthanks

[@davedave872]

Sarah Gray in america it's falsely noted as the Raven because she is more common than the magpie. But it is the magpie.

[@alicefreesia8112]

I feed my magpies most every day! They are very smart and I sure like them.

[@samuellingwood4203]

@@davedave872 I was hoping someone would say that :D

[@WytchOfTheElderTree]

My grandmother used to sing this nursery rhyme to me like this. 🙏💜🌳🌸🍃💚

[@khanara6]

This is truly the witches song.... The lyrics defy the devil and in the same breath they ascribe qualities of a deity of knowledge of the unseen to a mere bird.

[@rukeyser]

What a lovely gift your posts are. Found you by way of Detectorists.

[@martincotterill2132]

I really enjoyed the series. The ending wasnt what i expected though😕😕

[@katharinemcchane7277]

I did too! When the falcon whistle was found!

[@shirleyfortablet7958]

The unthanks are amazing singers ,well done girls , beautiful singing ,thank you Shirley h Darlington england 😁

[@toby_wankenobi]

My Great-Grandma used to sing this to me in geek. I never knew how creepy it is, I love it.

[@elwolf8536]

Geek or Greek?

[@rabokarabekian409]

@@elwolf8536 geek = hexadecimal ascii = very tricky

[@terrysaunders6479]

Thank you for the Unthanks .Beautiful

[@CarolBolton-p9t]

Absolutely beautiful. I just love magpies and the song .

[@folkloreofbeing]

I have sound sensation synathesia/ASMR and the triggers for it are rare. But this song...makes my whole body go crazy.

[@2big]

have you heard much morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) music?

[@_LetsGoBrandon]

This song is so hauntingly beautiful.....

[@enriquesanchez9016]

Yep, True Detective also made me discover this beautiful song. Amazing season so far, can't wait for the finale.

[@Cole_Anderson]

This inspired a story I wrote. It turned out amazing. Thank you :)

[@AdamKoskiTetrahedron]

Also just recently featured on Season 4 Episode 1 of True Detective 😁👍

[@vj19xrk9]

an other worldly a cappella to close a very ambiguous 4th season True Dectective opener. Thank you for the listen🌞

[@robertmarlow255]

Detectorist was my intro to this; haunting!

[@Puchowalkerturner]

I heard this song in the documentary "Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror".

[@johncarloruzzelcarandang3049]

Finally!! been searching for this song again since forever!!

[@myprofoundsecrets8015]

....SEVENS FOR A SECRET NEVER TOLD...to worship the DEVILS BIRD, but we respect the old ways .... Love this ...Xx

[@BirdQuartet]

The one that I was taught is: 1 for sorrow 2 for joy 3 for a girl 4 for a boy 5 for silver 6 for gold 7 for a secret never to be told 8 for a wish 9 for a kiss 10 is a bird you must not miss (Also just thought I'd say that I've been listening to this on repeat for an hour ha)

[@cheeseismypeace7273]

Mine is “One crow for sorrow” “Two crows for mirth” “Three crows for a wedding” “Four crowd for a birth” “Five crows for silver” “Six crows for gold” “Seven crows for a secret, not to be told” “Eight crows for heaven” “Nine crows for hell” “And ten crows for the devil’s own self”

[@gregmyrkle3425]

Lance and Andy sent me here

[@isaacmr.trumpetmanbobonis]

Anyone here after watching the show True Detective?

[@michaelcoughlin5308]

Yes

[@JShovelwater4558]

I don’t mean that there is sonething esseential in this song. But, there is something very essential in this song. I feel it.

[@stop736]

Heard this last night in the credits of “True Detective”…very cool song!

[@jurgennaeve3897]

thanks True Detectives 4 think I would never found this absolutely wonderful piece of music!

[@princeramblerose]

bumped into this in my recommendations and this slaps!!

[@SueWay-q2w]

Me too! Knew I'd heard it at a Folk Festival - now remembered it was the Unthanks!

[@stephensmith799]

Haunting harmonies..

[@TomorrowWeLive]

I love these old folk incantations. Seven paters seven times, Send Mary by her Son, Send Bridget by her mantle, Send God by His strength, Between us and the faery host, Between us and the demons of the air. -Seven Paters Seven Times, WB Yeats

[@hufflepufflez3293]

4:02 I live how they say that, the he makes it sound like 'priesty says we're wicked' which is mocking and just all around fitting

[@CreeketsCreek]

Try looking at the actual "one for, two for" poem in the comments at the same time as the version of it is playing in the lyrics. I literally got chills.

[@blessedbees4247]

Who came here because of The Detectorists, but stayed for the beautiful music ?

[@mikeevers9079]

Me!

[@AnEnemy100]

When my son was born two magpies huddled on the branch of a silver birch just outside the window.

[@jd_jd_jd]

Heard up to seven as a kid Magpie, heard 8,9,10 since but 11,12, 13 can go with too. Love this programme and these musical interludes, usually at the end of episodes/series I find almost haunting. Just fantastic all round. See university challenge?

[@stevegrieb6596]

Wow! Gorgeous harmonies. Wonderful song.

[@coyotemojo]

Another great find from the detectorists

[@jennbamboo]

I love The Unthanks version of this ………. Hauntingly Beautiful

[@itsnotdio8119]

I'm reading The Magpie Lord and it starts with those lyrics and i immediatly loved the book

[@davidlyons3678]

Fantastic vocals. This is amazing

[@ell1185]

brb gonna sing this to the magpies that keep flying into my dads shed and getting stuck

[@frogmonster.mp4]

i have no idea why this was recommended to me but it's cool reading the comments and seeing different versions of the same rhyme

[@AvaT42]

I love this song. I first heard it on The Detectorists.

[@aannddrroommaann]

Yes it is, do watch the detectorsists. Mesmerising!

[@nicolassurmal2632]

Back in 1983, I saw 6 magpies from the window of my wife's room while visiting her in the French maternity clinic in Lille where she was due to have our youngest child. The following weekend, I took our other children metal detecting in the Forest of Hesdin where I found a lovely little gold ring in the double loop shape of infinity. It had a small ruby in one loop and a small pearl in the other. Spooky!

[@Feezee223]

nicolas surmal that’s really creepy but allso really cool

[@spacewolf182]

This is at the beginning of Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched. An excellent documentary about the history of folk horror in cinema. I highly recommend it.

[@matismirela6899]

❤❤❤ MAGNIFIQUE!!! VERA and this 😍 ♥️ ❤️ SONG/BALAD!!!

[@joline2730]

Thanks, Unthanks, very nicely sung - well done 💯💯💟

[@helenbunnehmummeh5154]

Here from Vera, love this.❤

[@evilmonkeytwo1841]

beautiful, just beautiful. love this so much.

[@alunalionheart410]

My neighbours have a tree that always attracts magpies. I have two cats and one of them had caught one of them. I went to the rescue and the bird was completely fine and flew off to that tree. Now, whenever that cat is outside and too close, the whole swarm of the magpies start making noise to scare her off. They never do this to my other cat. They know that this is the one who attacked one of them, and when she shows herself they warn each other and scare her away.

[@theotheseaeagle]

That’s hilarious. Jackdaws and carrion crows do the same to kites or buzzards. Whenever I see a buzzard it will always have 2-3 jackdaws or crows mobbing it driving it on. They do it because most birds of prey will prey on their chicks who are usually very exposed in the tops of trees. I also have carrion crow colony in a tree in my village

[@stephs7294]

Love this song - and I love Magpies x

[@Pytte]

True Detective lead me here..

[@felipeb.9321]

really beautiful version ... True Detective season 4 has a number of great soundtrack choices.

[@mattiuszep]

Fabulous cover of the Original written by Davey Dodds!

[@TheSeafordian]

But based on an ancient rhyme from the sixteenth century.

[@lallyoisin]

I love the magpie; matters not how many! They're always there !

[@ellenzouroudes176]

I just heard this wonderful song on Detectorists

[@frankstavro]

Thank you for the music.

[@Littlewing4201]

"One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee Oh the Magpie brings us tidings Of news both fair and fowl She's more cunning than the Raven More wise than any Owl For she brings us news of the harvest Of the barley we done called And she knows when we'll go to our graves And how we shall be born One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee She brings us joy when from the right Grief when from the left Of all the news that's in the air We know to trust her best For she sees us at our labor And she mocks us at our work And she steals the extra from out of the Nest And she can mob the hob One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee The priest he says we're wicked But to worship the devils birth Ah but we respect the old ways And we disregard his word For we know they rest uneasy As we slumber in the night And we'll always leave out a little bit of meat For the Bird that's black and white One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told"

[@moonstandswaiting]

Thank you for the words written out this way. It saves me as I plan to sing it at our next folk meeting. X

[@JustMe-jj7xr]

"she steals the eggs from out of the nest so she can mob the hawk"

[@timesupmetoo]

I always count when i see magpies in the fields around my house now

[@natet9071]

One for sorrow Two for mirth Three for death Four for birth Five for heaven Six for hell Seven for the devil himself

[@ilovemyfrog6648]

Nate T I saw seven magpies today..

[@nicolassurmal2632]

Growing up in the New Forest, I first learned the southern version, 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy, 3 for a girl, 4 for a boy, 5 for silver, six for gold, 7 for a secret never to be told (ie death). Then while stationed in Yorkshire many years ago, I learned their version which has 1 for sorrow, 2 for mirth, 3 for a wedding, 4 for a birth, then the same 5, 6 & 7 as the southern version.

[@vmprie]

One crow for sorrow, Two crows for a mirth; Three crows for a wedding, Four crows for a birth; Five crows for silver, Six crows for gold; Seven crows for a secret, not to be told; Eight crows for heaven, Nine crows for hell; And ten crows for the devil’s own self.

[@polanafowdrey3050]

This is the version I use. I’m fascinated by them all though.

[@Sanduiche1000]

@@ilovemyfrog6648 See you at afterlife

[@chrishaws204]

They do mock us at our work. Loads of Maggie live round our ways. They recognise us and talk to each other.

[@user3141592635]

I protest against the historical thought, she would be more cunning than the Raven, Oðins bird, otherwise everything is nice :) The Raven is way more intelligent and cunning, way more. However, very very shy and does not like humans looking or coming too close unlike the magpie. The Magpie is #2 in my book, after the Raven :) They are unlike all other birds as the song tells us. I have shot one as a kid, I regret it. The song performance is first class. Thank you.

[@catboyneilcicierega]

I prefer ravens cuz I’m a Ravenclaw lol

[@elwolf8536]

"Hugin and Munin Fly each day Over the spacious earth I fear for Hugin That he come not back, Yet more anxious am I for Munin"

[@iulia3914]

i was convinced the wings sound at the beginning was a rat behind the sofa and I almost had a heart attack, I got up and got a broom and everything kill me now

[@jash6981]

thanks for this, a truly haunting song