The Magpie

[Intro]
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
More cunning than the raven
More wise than any owl
And 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 is for gold
Seven's for a secret never told

[Verse 2]
She brings us joy when from the right
And 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 egg 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 is for gold
Seven’s for a secret never told

[Verse 3]
Now, the priest, he says we're wicked
And that worship the devil’s bird
But we respect the old ways
And we disregard his word
For we know they rest uneasy
As they slumber in the night
And we always leave a little bit of meat
For the bird that's black and white

[Outro]
Devil, devil, I defy thee
Devil, devil, I defy thee
Devil, devil, I defy thee