The Raven: Read by Christopher Walken 

Shut your eyes when listening. It makes Chris's recitation even more compelling! The breathlessness in his voice at the beginning of the 15th verse...so powerful and moving. What a masterpiece!

2:55 whoever decided to add the guitar deserves a kick in the nuts

I love Poe and Christopher Walken...

Walken + Poe = Awesomeness

Quoth the raven, cowbell more

Christopher Walken gives the story such life, such MEANING!! I rarely ever find such emotion in a poem!! In other words, I LOVE THIS!!! XD

He really conveys that the narrator is descending line by line into madness. Beautiful.

Then this wretched bird beguiling Gene's sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern impression of the words he loudly swore, "Fever have I, Mister Frenkle", louder hits Gene tried to sprinkle Ghastly grim and ancient Raven tearing out the music's core - Tell me what thy problem here is with our music's dynamite store!" Quoth the Raven, "Cowbell: More."

My favorite poem, ever since I was such a young little girl! I couldn't imagine it being read any bit improved. Christopher Walken, please live forever

Christopher Walken is amazing! his voice is the best

the narrator should stop talking... ...and start walken

I grew up in the Bronx very near where his home was. He was a legend and I having grown up in the Bronx can understand how he must have heard sounds at that time that made him think and write such amazing works.. Thank you Edgar Allen Poe!

I just spent an hour listening to all these videos doing this poem: this one is by far the best. I am a Vincent Price Fan and Walken blew him out of the water! That there are no visual effects was a wise choice Poe's face and Walken's voice is well enough for this poem. Poe really was insane.

They picked the right guy to recite this classic poem by Edgar Allan Poe! Actor Christopher Walken has got to be one of the most eccentric & creepiest people out there! Plus,the way he talks...imitated by many comedians! A very good read!

Haha, the part where he says "Allan, Allan! I know it's Allan" Reminds me of those talking animals. The groundhog that keeps yelling "Allan, Allan!"

Loooooove this :) really appreciate the picture zooming too, simple and effective. All time favorite.

"Quoth the raven 'Eat My Shorts!'" "Baaaarrrtt ! " xD

Ha...that's so Raven.

My all-time favorite writer narrated by one of my all-time favorite voices.

An excellent rendition. Christopher Walken breathes the life of suspense into a masterful classic long forgotten by modern horror. A piece that is often overlooked nowadays is here made ready to chill you to the bone. :)

poetry is so much more awesome when its being read to you through headphones, especially something so gothic as the raven

He's got the perfect voice for this poem. Would have been perfect without the guitar, though. 😕

Best reading of The Raven I ever heard! The expression is just right and not flat or overbearing

Christopher Walken could read a Dr. Seuss book and make it epic! I love this, thanks for posting!

Heard this on satellite radio during Halloween time.... Very cool.

I have listed to other readings but this is the BEST

This is literally perfect, if you put it into the computer there be no mistakes to be found. Surely one of the greatest writers of all time.

I love Poe, I love the raven and I love Christopher Walken this is perfect interpretation of the poem

"Tapping at my chamber doh-err" I love Walken's voice!

Christopher walken scares the shit out of me

One of the best recitations I've heard so far. I love Poe's Raven.

Great Audio. Even though this is really eerie piece by Edgar Allen Poe, this is the one that always brings me to tears. Absolute sorrow in the heaviest fashion.

All hail Christopher Walken

Walken and Poe The Shit

I don't think i have ever ben so creeped about this poem then i have until i heard this version. Well done...

I so enjoy christopher Walken! My uncle had that poem memorized and used to quit it for us. What chill! What a thrill!

Poor old Poe. He had a ton of shit to cope with in his life.

edgers not my name anymore.......call me nightpain

I have always loved Vincent Price's version of this reading, but I just cam across this, and I love it. Walken rules the roost!!!

I love the dark mystery of Poe. Seems he was indeed in touch with his "plutonian shore."

Willem Dafoe might be good at this.

Ugh. Not a fan of the loud background effects....

Beautifully read by Christopher Walken. He has a voice fitting for reading Poe's works.

Wow, Walken certainly has a talent for reading. This is the best reading of "The Raven" I've heard. I love that man. :)

It actually is him. I thought it might be an impersonator or something.

Quoth the Raven "Never...more cow bell!"

This is an awesome reading. Christopher Walken does it so well.

I pass Poe's grave often over the corse of my week. I will allways love his wrightings. This is the best reading of the Reven I have ever heard.

7.8/10 Too much guitar riff, not enough cowbell.

It needs more cow bells

I love Walken's voice more than any other humans.

The Raven may very well be my favourite poem. I never fail to read it every Halloween. This is a really great reading. Walkenis perfect for this. Normally I would shy away from background sounds but I think they add to this reading. Very well done over all.

Brilliant! Better than the readings by Christopher Lee and Vincent Price. Love the background sounds, including the subtle electric guitar. :)

I love the way he reads this, but I just wish it were available without the stupid music and sound effects.

This is my marching band theme next year. I love it.

I love this poem, all time fave!!!

Scooch closer children, don't make me tell you again about the scooching

Anybody here just cause you didnt feel like reading it yourself?

I used to have this audio on the home PC back when I was a child. When they were still a little on the big and bulky side. It was the first reading of the poem I had heard (in memory) and I thought the guitars were awesome. That computer no longer exists and I love the extra sound effects now over the guitar. I also like the way Christopher Walken reads this. Like he's really feeling it, a little instead of just reading a poem.

I love Poe, I love The Raven and I love Christopher Walken! What a great amalgam!

That electric guitar really ruins the whole thing. Totally uncalled for.

the only better reading is the great Vincent Price.

Christopher Walken’s voice always makes me laugh, so despite the fact that I love this poem, I can’t help but chuckle.

Oh, this is eerie - Walken could never tell a bedtime story to children without scaring the crap out of them!

#2spooky

Morgan freeman should read this

Thanks for posting this. It's the version I like the most.

this voice is so amazing love it. for my eng III class, i'm writing a remake for the raven and this is completely getting me in the mood.

Does Christopher Walken scare the cr*p out of himself ?

It's 2019.... can someone remove the guitar and reupload, then link it here please!?! Like if agree!!

This is my favorite poem. Poe was a freakin' genius.

This is one of the best and most powerful Poems ever written!

The crappy background is pointless

I'mma let you finish but HP Lovecraft had the best book ever this year.

I love Christopher's voice. this is a keeper!! =)

Poe has an amazing way of putting words in a rhythmic form.

Would be better if Morgan Freeman read it...

Someone please remove that stupid guitar.....

This is too freakin' perfect... wtf... why didn't I think of looking for this before.. It makes so much sense for some reason..

The Raven By Edgar Allen Poe Published on January 29, 1847 [Stanza 1] Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' [Stanza 2] Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore - Nameless here for evermore. [Stanza 3] And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating `'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door - Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more,' [Stanza 4] Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more. [Stanza 5] Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!' Merely this and nothing more. [Stanza 6] Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. `Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - 'Tis the wind and nothing more!' [Stanza 7] Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. [Stanza 8] Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 9] Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.' [Stanza 10] But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before - On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.' Then the bird said, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 11] Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, `Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of "Never-nevermore."' [Stanza 12] But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore - What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking `Nevermore.' [Stanza 13] This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! [Stanza 14] Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. `Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 15] `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! - Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 16] `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore - Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore - Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 17] `Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 18] And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Wicked! I love Poe and Walken, no one has read it better.

Christopher Walken can read anything and get any type of person glued to what he is saying, I remember not liking this that much until now

I found this some years ago, impressed. I have looked at various other versions over the years and I think their use of graphics is over the top, distracting from the words. Well done, mate - best version ever.

LOVED this-thank you!!

Loving this so much.

I LOVE this!!!! Two of my favorites! Would that they could meet! Anyway, I think Walken's voice is distinct, but he is SO GOOD, who cares???? Toward the end, he put me in mind of Christopher Lee. Fantastic!

This is so good it almost hurts.

I absolutely love this

i learned this whole poem by memory for my english class. still know it. its nice to say"oh i know a poem thats 18 stanzas long!"

This to be one of the most awesome things I've ever heard. Christopher Walken reading Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven...yeah...that just happened...

The epic word play between the two youtubers in the comments. Simply amazing

this actually played in my class a few years back, i couldnt believe my ears. nor can i believe i found it on youtube.

You said it best, very succinct and well put

I never got this poem until I heard it read by someone with an accent close to Poe's own. The way Walken drawls the "ore" sounds like a raven (or a crow, perhaps.)

"Dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before"...man, Poe was awesome. It's unreal what that man did with the English language.

Excellent Recitation.

Enjoyed the reading without visual distraction. well done thank you

Hahahahahahaha excellent--and "The Raven" is my all-time favorite poem!!

This has made my day. Thank you.

one of my favorites, actually the reason I love poetry now