The Magpie

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl and
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven 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 for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl and
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never told

The priest, he says we're wicked
But to worship the devil's 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

Devil, devil, I defy thee
Devil, devil, I defy thee
Devil, devil, I defy thee