The magpie is a most illustrious bird
dwells in a diamond tree
one brings sorrow and one brings joy
sorrow and joy for me

The magpie is a most royal bird
black and blue as night
i would that I had feathers three
black and blue and white

I saw the gentle magpie bird
in dusky yester-eve
one brought sorrow and one brought joy
and sooner than soon did leave