Magpie - The Unthanks - LYRICS 

Terry Pratchett did research on the Magpie Song for one of his books on the Witches. He found no fewer than 30 variations, perhaps more.

Thank you True Detective for one more brilliant unknown song!

In Germany there's the belief that magpies steal anything that has silver colour. When I was a kid and we were eating in the garden I would always guard the cutlery xD

Strangely enough, magpies are one of the handful of species on earth that can recognize its reflection as itself.

Our neighbours used to have a huge Ash tree in their garden with three families of magpies living in it. They were very noisy and very funny! (and also clever, I used to feed them and they would know if I was coming to feed them or just put out the washing or w/e) and they cut the tree down. I really miss those cool little birds! They all had different characters. The youngest from the highest nest was a cheeky wee fella!

My mother had a pet magpie as a child (this was the 1930's/40's and the bird was a rescued nestling), which mother allowed to fly free but it would go with her to school (the bird would ride with my mother on her horse - mom rode a horse to school), wait for her in trees outside and fly to her at the end of the day to go home with her, though mother told me that as the weather warmed, if the school opened the windows for spring/summer, the magpie would fly in, alight on my mother's desk and make a nuisance of itself, as magpies do - evidently the bird loved to steal pencils! My family is Irish and my grandmother LOVED magpies so she encouraged my mother's pet! What she always told us was that if you see a magpie you must always tell the bird hello, ask after his/her family and treat the bird with love and respect so as to avoid sorrow! Also, the UnThanks is a fab band!

this reminds me of an old tradition from the french countryside- if one saw one magpie it foreshadowed disappointment, if there were two it meant accomplishment, and if there were three, it meant hardships would come. (for anyone interested in the saying: 'une pie, tant pis ; deux, tant mieux; trois, malheur!')

"The preist he says we're wicked, but to worship the devils bird ah but we respect the old ways and we disregard his word."

Hauntingly beautiful. I miss The Detectorists.

Anyone here after watching the show True Detective?

I always come back to this song, it’s hauntingly beautiful. The three voices kind of remind me of the maiden, the mother, and the crone. Just a weird connection I get.

I was brought up with a slightly different rhyme about crows, not magpies. 1 for sorrow 2 for mirth 3 for marriage 4 for birth 5 for laughing 6 for crying 7 for sickness 8 for dying 9 for silver 10 for gold 11 for a secret never to be told

Such a close-up, detailed photograph makes it clear that while there is a similar-ish sort of bird in Australia, they are not the same species. (Do a search of Images Australian magpie.) The Australian magpie is very clever, sings in tune and has a "laugh". (It's not quite as spectacular as the kookaburra's laugh but it's still a nice sound.) The Australian magpie is famous for swooping on people during their nesting season, and they are big enough that they can do some damage. However, they also can tell people apart and they know who the friendly ones are and they can remember the unfriendly ones for up to 5 years. Both parents are needed to raise young magpies. When the young are close to leaving the nest the young magpies may actually be a little larger than their parents and it is funny to see a bird that is larger than its parents following them around squeaking like a baby bird as they search for insects (especially as, by that stage, they are also pecking at insects on their own!)

My personal opinion. To light up ones day. A single sorrow blooms an array of joy. We need sadness to understand happiness.

This is such a hauntingly beautiful performance, gives me shivers. It makes the scene in The Detectorists just spectacular. Thank you!

In China the Magpie is called the Bird of Joy, because they help the Spinning Maid to join her husband the Cowherd, by building a bridge with their bodies so the Spinning Maid can cross the River.

We have lots of crows and ravens here, but no magpies. What we do have in winter, is Steller's Jays, which are similar to Blue Jays, but a bit different. I put peanuts out for them and they take turns coming for them. They are amazing birds. They come to my window where they know I am, and make themselves known, wanting to be fed. They are like pets.

Lance and Andy sent me here

My favourite bird of all time. Had 3 Magpies as pets when I was at school. The first was rescued and became very tame. I gave it the name 'Eyas' (Eyasses) The name for a young Peregrine Falcon. It would even follow me to school. After having it for over a year we took it back to the place I found it & let it fly free. After 2 weeks we went back, called it's name & within seconds it landed on my shoulder, unbelievably. Pica Pica, a beautiful & intelligent bird.

Night Country brought me here. Now this will blow up as this song resonates through episode #1 A Fantastic rendition of this fable/rhyme!

I have sound sensation synathesia/ASMR and the triggers for it are rare. But this song...makes my whole body go crazy.

Old English Nursery Rhyme around 1780 from Lincolnshire England.

Detectorists brought me here! Gives me chills.

I know my Grandmother would also have loved this song...miss her

We just sang this beautiful song during our last concert with the Love Music Community Choir at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh a week ago. There are around ,300 of us and it was incredibly great 🤩🤩🤩

ı remember seeing a magpie one morning just staring towards me across the street. They're pretty rare to see in my area so I was pretty excited about it. That evening my great grandma passed away. Years later I found out about this ryhme and it gives me chills whenever I think about it.

Who came here because of The Detectorists, but stayed for the beautiful music ?

This song is so hauntingly beautiful.....

True Detective lead me here..

My Great-Grandma used to sing this to me in geek. I never knew how creepy it is, I love it.

Watching these entertaining birds flying around my garden in this pandemic has kept me going in my solitude, I see them as my wild pets and feed them meal worms every morning. I love this haunting performance by the Unthanks. Bravo.

I once found a magpie in the woods who was dazed. I'm not sure what was wrong with it, but I picked it up and took it to the side of the trail. It seemed to sober up, but before it flew away, it looked directly at me and jerked its head. I like to think that it was thanking me. By the way, magpies have beautifully soft plumage.

Also just recently featured on Season 4 Episode 1 of True Detective 😁👍

The detectorists brought me here. Can't believe I've only just heard of this amazing program. Love its soundtrack

Watching an old episode of Detectorists made me come here. Just my cup of tea.

brb gonna sing this to the magpies that keep flying into my dads shed and getting stuck

All my life I have saluted the single magpie....they have been part of my life and continue to be so....🙏

My grandmother used to sing this nursery rhyme to me like this. 🙏💜🌳🌸🍃💚

I know this song with slightly different words. The count goes up to 10, and there's no bit about the priest or about it being specifically about magpies...in fact,I was always told that the oracular bird in question was the raven! I suppose different areas have different versions of the song, and since my ancestors came from Scotland and the part of England known as the Danegeld, it may have had a Norse origin.

Who is here after True Detective?

....SEVENS FOR A SECRET NEVER TOLD...to worship the DEVILS BIRD, but we respect the old ways .... Love this ...Xx

i was convinced the wings sound at the beginning was a rat behind the sofa and I almost had a heart attack, I got up and got a broom and everything kill me now

The one that I was taught is: 1 for sorrow 2 for joy 3 for a girl 4 for a boy 5 for silver 6 for gold 7 for a secret never to be told 8 for a wish 9 for a kiss 10 is a bird you must not miss (Also just thought I'd say that I've been listening to this on repeat for an hour ha)

Heard this last night in the credits of “True Detective”…very cool song!

This is hauntingly beautiful. Heard it on Detectorists too! Wow! The harmony is incredible.

Came here from true detective I am hooked.

I love these old folk incantations. Seven paters seven times, Send Mary by her Son, Send Bridget by her mantle, Send God by His strength, Between us and the faery host, Between us and the demons of the air. -Seven Paters Seven Times, WB Yeats

I absolutely, deeply love this channel. Thank you. Really. Thank you for every song, every lullaby, every melody you upload, 'cause they speak to my heart, and many of them are really difficult to find, here where I live.

When my son was born two magpies huddled on the branch of a silver birch just outside the window.

One for sorrow Two for mirth Three for death Four for birth Five for heaven Six for hell Seven for the devil himself

I always salute when I see magpies. My Nannan salutes and says "good morning Mr magpie, how are you and how is your family". Counting magpies has been a tradition I've kept all my life and this song is such a nice way to talk about it.

Yep, True Detective also made me discover this beautiful song. Amazing season so far, can't wait for the finale.

Haunting harmonies..

4:02 I live how they say that, the he makes it sound like 'priesty says we're wicked' which is mocking and just all around fitting

What a lovely gift your posts are. Found you by way of Detectorists.

They do mock us at our work. Loads of Maggie live round our ways. They recognise us and talk to each other.

I don’t mean that there is sonething esseential in this song. But, there is something very essential in this song. I feel it.

Thank you to True Detective that introduced me to this song. The harmony is so wonderful it gives me chills!❤❤

I heard this song in the documentary "Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror".

bumped into this in my recommendations and this slaps!!

Respect from the Celtic Pagans of Eire. Keep our old songs true and believe in the words of the old paths. Teach our children of the old paths and beliefs. Slainte agus Saoirse.

Thanks true Detective 🕵️‍♀️

My neighbours have a tree that always attracts magpies. I have two cats and one of them had caught one of them. I went to the rescue and the bird was completely fine and flew off to that tree. Now, whenever that cat is outside and too close, the whole swarm of the magpies start making noise to scare her off. They never do this to my other cat. They know that this is the one who attacked one of them, and when she shows herself they warn each other and scare her away.

The one I have 1 for sorrow 2 for joy 3 for a girl 4 for a boy 5 for silver 6 for gold 7 for a secret never to be told 8 for a wish 9 for a kiss 10 for a bird you must not miss

The unthanks are amazing singers ,well done girls , beautiful singing ,thank you Shirley h Darlington england 😁

thanks True Detectives 4 think I would never found this absolutely wonderful piece of music!

I always count when i see magpies in the fields around my house now

Try looking at the actual "one for, two for" poem in the comments at the same time as the version of it is playing in the lyrics. I literally got chills.

I love the magpie; matters not how many! They're always there !

What beautiful singing. Thank you ladies.

respect the old ways 🙌

True Detective brought me here

really beautiful version ... True Detective season 4 has a number of great soundtrack choices.

Wow! Gorgeous harmonies. Wonderful song.

The Detectorists. Terrific series, available on Netflix.

"One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's 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's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee She brings us joy when from the right 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 labor And she mocks us at our work And she steals the extra from out of the Nest And she can mob the hob One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee Devil devil i defy thee The priest he says we're wicked But to worship the devils 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 One's for sorrow Two's for joy Three's for a girl and Four's for a boy Five's for silver Six for gold Seven's for a secret never told"

Fabulous cover of the Original written by Davey Dodds!

an other worldly a cappella to close a very ambiguous 4th season True Dectective opener. Thank you for the listen🌞

These girls understand mythology.

Thank you for the Unthanks .Beautiful

I protest against the historical thought, she would be more cunning than the Raven, Oðins bird, otherwise everything is nice :) The Raven is way more intelligent and cunning, way more. However, very very shy and does not like humans looking or coming too close unlike the magpie. The Magpie is #2 in my book, after the Raven :) They are unlike all other birds as the song tells us. I have shot one as a kid, I regret it. The song performance is first class. Thank you.

I'm reading The Magpie Lord and it starts with those lyrics and i immediatly loved the book

I know a different one... One is for bad news, two is for mirth. Three is a wedding, four is a birth. Five is for riches, six is a thief. Seven's is a journey, eight is for grief. Nine is a secret, ten is for sorrow. Eleven's for love, and twelve is for joy tomorrow.

"eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, ten for a bird you must not miss"🍀

This inspired a story I wrote. It turned out amazing. Thank you :)

beautiful, just beautiful. love this so much.

I love this song. I first heard it on The Detectorists.

This is at the beginning of Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched. An excellent documentary about the history of folk horror in cinema. I highly recommend it.

Heard up to seven as a kid Magpie, heard 8,9,10 since but 11,12, 13 can go with too. Love this programme and these musical interludes, usually at the end of episodes/series I find almost haunting. Just fantastic all round. See university challenge?

I love The Unthanks version of this ………. Hauntingly Beautiful

Thanks, Unthanks, very nicely sung - well done 💯💯💟

Another great find from the detectorists

True Detective Season 4!

The Detectorists brought me here 😍

This is so absolutely beautiful!

In Staffordshire, England - when we see a single magpie, it's believed unlucky (as after all they are birds who pair up, or have family units) - to prevent the bad luck spreading to you, you doth your cap/hat, nod and say ''Hello Mr.Magpie, How's the wife and family?''. Old rural superstition, of Staffordshire and surrounding counties of the Midlands.

Just love this,,, from 1840's One for sorrow, Two for mirth Three for a funeral, Four for birth Five for heaven Six for hell Seven for the devil, his own self

i have no idea why this was recommended to me but it's cool reading the comments and seeing different versions of the same rhyme

Listening to this while watching a magpie outside in the garden. I'm guessing sorrow is coming my way. :(

Incroyablement envoûtant !