07/08/2026
oral folk lore
WHO KILLED C**K ROBIN?
This old song is said to commemorate the death of red headed King William Rufus, thought by many to have been the Lughnasa killing of a sacred king. This version dates from 1788.
Who killed c**k Robin?
"I," said the sparrow,
"With my little bow and arrow,
I killed c**k Robin."
Who saw him die?
"I," said the pie,
"With my little eye,
I saw him die."
Who caught his blood?
"I," said the fisher,
"With my little dish,
I caught his blood."
Who'll make his shroud?
"I," said the eagle,
"With my thread and needle,
I'll make his shroud."
Who'll dig his grave?
"I," said the owl,
"With my little trowel,
I'll dig his grave."
Who'll be the parson?
"I," said the rook,
"With my little book,
I'll be the parson.
Who'll be the clerk?
"I," said the lark,
"If it's not in the dark,
I'll be the clerk.
Who'll carry the link?
"I," said the linnet,
"I'll come in a minute,
I'll carry the link."
Who'll be the chief mourner?
"I," said the dove,
"I mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner."
Who’ll carry the coffin?
“I,” said the kite,
“If it’s not through the night,
I’ll carry the coffin.”
Who’ll bear the pall?
“We,” said the wren,
“Both c**k and hen,
We’ll bear the pall.”
Who'll sing a psalm?
"I," said the thrush,
As she sat in a bush,
“I'll sing a psalm."
Who'll toll the bell?
"I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull,
I'll toll the bell."
Who’ll lead the way?
“I,” said the martin,
“When ready for starting
I’ll lead the way.”
All the birds of the air
Fell sighing and sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor c**k Robin.
According to Michael Bayley, in the Brythonic Celtic tongues coch means ‘red’ and rhi-ben means ‘chief king’. The sparrow is ‘Bran’s Sparrow’, i.e. the goldcrest wren, ruler of the winter half of the year. The arrow is shot at Lammas when the magpie of ill omen appears. The kingfisher catches his blood. His soul departs as an eagle. The owl is Blodeuwedd in her winter aspect. The rook is considered an unlucky bird. The lark is sacred to the goddess of death in life. The linnet is connected with flax, from which the torch is made, sacred to Arianrhod. The kite is a carrion bird, but also associated with goddesses such as Isis who revive the king. The thrush is connected with the holly at the midwinter solstice when the sun is reborn. The bull is the bullfinch, the martin leads in the year. At Midsummer is An Fheill Eoin, the festival of birds who fall silent in August
