Magpie
The Unthanks * Track #5 On Mount the Air
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Magpie by The Unthanks
Performed by
The UnthanksAbout
Something of a signature song for The Unthanks, The Magpie is a cover of British folk singer Davey Dodds' best-known 1979 song that explores the magpie as an omen in folklore. The chorus is based on a nursery rhyme.
The Unthanks' version of the song achieved extra recognition when it was played as...
Magpie Lyrics
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 1]
Oh, the magpie brings us tidings
Of news both fair and foul
She's more cunning than the raven
More wise than any owl
For she brings us news of the harvest
Of the barley, wheat, and corn
And she knows when we'll go to our graves
And how we shall be born
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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 labour
And she mocks us at our work
And she steals the eggs from out of the nest
And she can mob the hawk
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 3]
The priest, he says we're wicked
For to worship the devil's bird
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
[Chorus]
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
Magpie Q&A
Who wrote Magpie's ?
Magpie was written by Davey Dodds.