There's an old English ballad called "Three Ravens" but it is the Scottish version, "Twa Corbies", that is better known these days, I think. "Twa Corbies" means "Two Crows". I know there are various versions, so there's no need to come back to me about these. Meanwhile, I offer these:
The Scottish song has a number of themes: the transcience of life; death and rebirth; the persistence of nature; and the fickleness of the human heart. There is even an element of "The King is dead. Long live the King!" Actually it is a knight who has died, not a king. Two crows are discussing where they will eat tonight. One mentions this dead knight. His body had been protected by his hawk, his dog and his mistress but the hawk and the dog have gone off to seek other prey and his mistress has taken another lover. It ends with a comment that, when man is reduced to bones, the wind will still be blowing and will do so forever.
The English version is a bit more uplifting. A similar scenario but the three ravens do not get to feed on the knight's dead body. His hawks and hounds do protect his body and do stay loyal. As does his mistress (in the form of a pregnant deer) who comes to him, kisses his wounds, carries him away and buries him. Alas, the mistress herself then dies.
It will be interesting if MK has produced another variation on this basic storyline.
