songs about birds

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Boho
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 09:33 AM

Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens, Louis Jourdan
Two Little Birds, Bob Marley

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 10:07 AM

When It's Time For The Whippoorwill To Sing. Done here by the Louvin Brothers, they got it from the Delmore Brothers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwbkwXoc_j8

Other Whippoorwill songs (with representative artists) to look for: The Whippoorwill - Keely Smith, Where The Whippoorwill Is Whispering Goodnight - Charlie Poole, The Last Whippoorwill - Bill Monroe, The First Whippoorwill Song - The DeZurik Sisters, So Says The Whippoorwill - Richard Shindell. That last one I didn't know about,I just ran across it while looking for confirmation on the others.

I am sure there are more, but that's a start. Oh, and Charlie mentions the "mocklingbird" in his song! Dale

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 10:16 AM

Do chickens count?
Jim Carroll

Delaney's Chicken.
Air Garden Where The Praties Grow (near enough)
Recorded from Mikey Kelleher,
August 1977.

Now Delaney, from the market bought a fowl a month ago,
If he find the man that sold it he'll kill him with a blow;
Delaney bought this chicken, being of a tender breed
And of a more deceitful bird you never heard agreed.

So when they sought to pluck it, their efforts was in vain,
Their hands were torn and blistered and their muscles they were strained,
And resting of this chicken, they put him down to stew,
If you want to see Delaney crack, cry cock-a-doodle-doo.

So Delaney bought this chicken for to give us all a spread
And after they arriving home they tried to pull off his head,
They ordered picks and shovels, they got twisted up like tin,
They tried to carve the chicken but they couldn't break the skin.

So this bird must have been crowing since they built the Tower of Babel,
He was fed by Cain and Abel and he lived in Noah's stable,
All the shots and shells was fired in the field of Waterloo,
Could not penetrate or dislocate the tilugated armour-plated,
Double-breasted, iron-chested, cock-a-doodle-doo.

So they borrowed Daley's rammer, by which he rammed the stones,
Thinking that when tapped, would break the tender chicken's bones,
But the first one has rebounded like an India rubber ball
And knocked twelve yards of coping out of Mulligan's garden wall.

So this bird must have been crowing since they built the Tower of Babel,
He was fed by Cain and Abel and he lived in Noah's stable,
All the shots and shells was fired in the field of Waterloo, C
Could not penetrate or dislocate the tilugated armour-plated,
Double-breasted, iron-chested, cock-a-doodle-doo.

Oh the Dundee Extra Gunners came to excavate the thing,
And the sortie called the Russia with, while light three yards of string.
Oh Tim brought the Davey Miner, through him they swore he lied,
While blowing up himself and the chicken with a pound of dynamite.

So to scrape the wall for chicken, it wasn't easy work,
It wasn't easy to know which was chicken and which was Burke,
But they found a leg of chicken on a friendly blacksmith's head,
And a pair of everlasting heels upon my boots it made.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: BobKnight
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 11:07 AM

"The Gull From Yesterday," by the Eagles. ;)

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Young Buchan
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 12:04 PM

I'm convinced I've seen this in the DT but I can't find it, so having nothing better to do:

I was doing no-one no harm
When to Grogan's Store I set my course,
And there I saw Ned Flanagan's gander
Was treading Nancy Hogan's goose.

Oh and Nancy herself was there,
And she had the Devil's tongue.
She swore by all the courts above
That she would have that gander hung.

"Oh, you cannot hang my gander.
It's the goose that is to blame.
For she comes round here every morning
And wiggles her arse just to show she's game."

But the policeman he came around
And took the gander off to jail;
Held him there till the next assizes;
Would not give him any bail.

When the trial id came around
He looked the judge right in the face.
He said, "Is it just for doing my duty
That I must now leave my native place?"

And then the judge he looked at the gander.
He said, "Young man, I'll set you loose.
But if you go back to Grogan's Store
Stay away from Nancy Hogan's goose."

He has gone back to Grogan's Store;
He's fillede himself full of oats and grass;
And he's jumped Nancy Hogan's goose
Crying, "All you judges can kiss my arse!"


Also there's the song explaining why ducks get piles when sparrows don't. It's not in the actual DT, but type in Unlucky Duck and you'll find threads with it on.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: deadfrett
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 02:09 PM

Utah Phillip's Rock Salt & Nails... Who Killed Cock Robin?..White Cliffs of Dover...

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Arkie
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 03:05 PM

Another song that comes to mind though not particularly about birds is Polly Von, Polly Vaughan, or whatever which which has the line, "She had her apron wrapped about her, and he took her for a swan". The song raises the issue of swan hunting and carelessness or did the young man just want to be rid of the lady and claim he thought she was a swan.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 03:09 PM

hardly, in theversion of the song [polly vaughan],that I sing he is heart broken, her ghost appears at the trial and asks that he should be allowed to go free,because he is heart broken and it was an accident.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 03:35 PM

If I Had the Wings of a Dove

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 05:59 PM

I dare you to sing Churchy Ballad on the radio!

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,guest, open mike
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 01:13 AM

Nanci Griffith beautiful song blackbirds wings--fly away to heaven-- gulf coast hiway...

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: open mike
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 03:59 AM

maybe if it was a FRIGATE bird...but not so in that "churchy" song

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 07:23 AM

Seem to remember from somewhere Eliza Carthy talking about Lal Waterson's affinity with birds which is reflected in some of her songs. 'Flight of the Pelican' springs to mind as does those wonderful lines from Child among the Weeds'

'Fly bird fly on you raven wing
Take to the sky and sing for the love of wheeling and turning'

Birds are also mentioned in four other songs from the 'Bright Phoebus'album

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,Barnacle (at work)
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 07:31 AM

Howsabout - The Magpie... one for sorrow etc

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Boho
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 07:34 AM

Jackdaw, by Audience

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: open mike
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 06:29 PM

Mockingbird Hill

This was written by George (Vaughn) Horton. George and his brother Roy Horton along with others, including the Beaver Valley Sweethearts ( Colleen and Donna Wilson) recorded this in 1951.It was a big hit for them.It was then covered by various artist including Patti Page and Les Paul & mary Ford to name a few. Roy Horton died in 2003 and George (Vaughn) Horton in 1988.

When the sun in the morning peeps over the hill
And kisses the roses 'round my window sill
Then my heart fills with gladness when I hear the trill
Of the birds in the treetops on Mockingbird Hill

Tra la la, tweedle dee dee dee
It gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning
To the mockingbird's trill
Tra la la tweedle dee dee dee
There's peace and good will
You're welcome as the flowers
On Mockingbird Hill

Got a three-cornered plow and an acre to till
And a mule that I bought for a ten-dollar bill
There's a tumble-down shack and a rusty old mill
But it's my Home Sweet Home up on Mockingbird Hill

Tra la la, tweedle dee dee dee
It gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning
To the mockingbird's trill
Tra la la tweedle dee dee dee
There's peace and good will
You're welcome as the flowers
On Mockingbird Hill

When it's late in the evening I climb up the hill
And survey all my kingdom while everything's still
Only me and the sky and an old whippoorwill
Singin' songs in the twilight on Mockingbird Hill

Tra la la, tweedle dee dee dee
It gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning
To the mockingbird's trill
Tra la la tweedle dee dee dee
There's peace and good will
You're welcome as the flowers
On Mockingbird Hill

i do not see this on D.T. perhaps i should say "lyric add"

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Dmitri Sofronov
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 03:22 AM

El cant dels ocells,

inofficial anthem of Catalonia (the most complete lyrics with translation is found in German Wikipedia, but bits and scraps translated into English are all over the place). It's a Christmas song.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 01:08 PM

John Denver's The Eagle and the Hawk is a must too

I know many do not consider John Denver to be folk but I think he sits with his legs on the folk side of the fence more than on the country and western side. Makes no difference of course. It's a great song

mp

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: bubblyrat
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 01:30 PM

There were three Crows up in a tree,
They were as black as black could be;
Said one black Crow unto another,
"You are a black enamel bugger !"


Up came a farmer with his gun,
He shot those Crows except for one,
Who flew into a lofty tree,
And said " You Bastard! Now shoot me !"

The farmer loaded with shot and shell;
    He shot that crow to fucking hell,
And as he fluttered to the ground,
His final resting place he found.

As I was walking through a wood,
I shit myself,I knew I would;
I cried for help ,but no help came,
And ,so, I shit myself again !

Ahh, Ahh Men.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: open mike
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 02:30 PM

john denver also has a song called
eagles and horses and on the wings of an eagle.

he is very folk-y.

and very eagle-y too.
one you tube video
shows footage of him flying
in a plane--probably the one
he went down in..the Long E Z

the radio show is in 3 hours
and i have a few songs that
were suggested by mudcats
including this one..i am
trying to learn to download
and burn songs using the Applian
Replay A V program.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 02:56 PM

The twa corbies, an old song a collected by Burns.

Black hawk and a white winged dove (sung by Emmylou on Wrecking Ball)

"Now Westering winds" a beautiful song by Burns which tells of all the birds in the Scottish countryside, one of Dick Gaughan's finest.


Lil red rooster, Willie Dixon, though perhaps most famously by The Stones.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 03:22 PM

from an old thread: The Broomsquire's Bird Song with ABC notation.

The whole history of the song is debatable, but it is a delight. (somewhere, I have a tape of a friend doing an excellent job of singing it....I am not aware of any commercial recordings.)

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 03:34 PM

As mentioned earlier, Derek Gifford is a star on birds in song - his presentations (which include recordings of the birdsong of the birds mentioned in the songs) are brilliant!

LTS - the song is John Ball, not John Bull, it was written by Sydney Carter.

There are a few birds in the Twelve Days of Christmas....

Kitty

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,Dick Miles
Date: 05 Feb 23 - 01:58 PM

Flying high but never landing
Flighted shaft of love entrancing
Through the clouds so lightly dancing
Chorus do si do and then farewell
repeat twice
2
I watched you circling higher
calling follow me for ever
Touching souls we soared together
Chorus
3 Flying for the sun were seeking
cross the waves so swiftly fleeting
never grounding loves fond feelings
Chorus
4 From the cliff face now the leaving
chasing sunbeams all the evening
joined in love our fusion weaving
Chorus
Flying high you stared soaring
to the ground i kept on falling
helpless till she heard the calling
chorus
High unto the cliff face leaving
Quivering heart so sadly weeping
gentle hands that kindly freed me
chorus
copyright Dick Miles

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 06 Feb 23 - 08:56 AM

I'm surprised that no English/Irish Folkie has mentioned 'The Lark in the Morning'. There ae three different songs about 'The Lark in the Morning but there is one I really love and used to sing in the 70s. Here is the Dubliners version. https://youtu.be/zzmZljzYMnw

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 06 Feb 23 - 01:54 PM

Songs for the Birds

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 11 May 25 - 01:41 PM

Someone asked about a thread about songs about birds,
and here we are.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 May 25 - 04:38 PM

I don't think anyone above has mentioned "Little Birdie" which Peggy Seeger used to sing as well as Pete Seeger:

After the singing of Peggy Seeger
And the Coon Creek Girls

Little Birdie


C--------------------G
Little birdie, little birdie
-----------------------G7-------C
Won't you sing to me your song;
----------------------------G
I've a short time for to be here
---------------------G7---C
And a long time to be gone.


Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes you fly so high?
It's because I've been a true little bird
And I'm not afraid to die.

Little birdie, little birdie
What makes your wings so blue?
I've been grieving, I've been grieving
A long time after you.

Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes your head so red?
It's a wonder, after all I've been through,
It's a wonder I ain't dead. (First Verse Again)

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 May 25 - 03:45 AM

posted here by Bob Bolton, 2013 Amergin posted a link with cords, 29 Jul 13 - 07:44 PM but alas it no longer exists. I'll see if I can chase it up

SONGS OF AUSTRALIA
(Stan Wakefield)

When summer days are long
Then comes a rowdy song
Down by the burrawong,
Fern-like and shady.

High in the kurrajong,
Far up the billabong,
I hear a currawong
Answer his lady.

Wattles of golden hue,
'Lowries of red and blue
Gleam in the morning dew,
Bushland's regalia —

Hark to the merry crew,
King parrot, cockatoo,
Lyre bird, that sing the true
Songs of Australia.

Subject: RE: lyrcics - Songs of Australia by Stan Wakefield
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 May 25 - 07:21 AM

oops, I found the dots & extra verse - in an article I published on the Bush Music Club blog
From the Archives - Extracts from Mulga Wire no. 212, August 2012 - Songs of Stan Wakefield (1906 - 1962)

The new verse was added in 2015 for use by our younger members

comment by a musician - Well, Stan Wakefield gives us experience of an interesting alternative rhyme structure:
A - A - A - B, A - A - A - B, - C - C - C - D, - C - C - C - D.

1. When summer days are long
Then comes a rowdy song
Down by the Burrawong
Fern-like and shady
High in the Kurrajong
Far up the billabong
I hear a currawong
Answer his lady.
Wattles of golden hue
Lowries of red and blue
Gleam in the morning dew
Bushlands regalia
Hark to the merry crew
King Parrot, cockatoo,
Lyrebird, that sing the true
Songs of Australia   (© Stan Wakefield)

2. Sweet tunes from violin
Banjo and mandolin
Voices now joining in
They'll never fail ya'
All 'round this wide country
People from land and sea
Singing in harmony
Songs of Australia.
Outback and city streets
Wherever strangers meet
This land beneath out feet
Forever changing
Bush Music still alive
People will always strive
For history will survive in
Songs of Australia   Verse 2 © Peter Cahill 2015

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST
Date: 15 May 25 - 09:44 AM

If you're open to one in Italian

L'Inverno È Passato

L'inverno è passato
L'aprile non c'è più
È ritornato il maggio
Al canto del cucù.

Cucù, cucù.
L'aprile non c'è più
È ritornato il maggio
Al canto del cucù.

Lassù per le montagne
La neve non c'è più
Comincia a fare il nido
Il povero cucù.

Cucù, cucù.
La neve non c'è più
Comincia a fare il nido
Il povero cucù.

La bella alla finestra
La guarda in su e in giù
Aspetta il fidanzato
Al canto del cucù.

Cucù, cucù.
La guarda in su e in giù
Aspetta il fidanzato
Al canto del cucù.

Te l'ho pur sempre detto
Che maggio ha la virtù
Di far sentir l'amore
Al canto del cucù.

Cucù, cucù.
Che maggio ha la virtù
Di far sentir l'amore
Al canto del cucù.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s" Band
Date: 15 May 25 - 10:41 AM

Providing fowl count then I propose "The Mallard"

" I `ave eaten, what `ave I ate?
I `ave eaten the wing of a mallard.
Wing wingy, back backy,leg leggy, thigh thighy, shin shinny, toe toey, two nippers and all.
And good meat was the mallard. And now I am in debility `ouse
And good meat was the mallard"

Etc., etc., until all its parts are consumed.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: Rex
Date: 15 May 25 - 12:26 PM

There are all the bird verses in Leatherwing Bat. It's in the DT database.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: GUEST,GW
Date: 15 May 25 - 12:35 PM

As a related aside, the Sligo fluter Marcus Hernon released the album 'The Grouse in the Heather' a couple of decades ago which is entirely devoted to his own compositions of tunes 'about' birds.

See https://thesession.org/recordings/1285.

Subject: RE: songs about birds
From: NightWing
Date: 18 May 25 - 08:25 PM

There's a Bluebird Singing in the Blue Ridge Mountains