Who/what is the Great Speckled Bird?

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 11:30 AM

That's GREAT, Jeanie! Thanks!

~S~

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 08:58 AM

I always enjoy impressing country fans (but nobody else) by saying that I met Acuff backstage at the Grand Ole Opry (another phrase that goes down well with country fans!) in the early 80s, I think.

They were just building the new Opryland, and an agent told me that they had built a special house in it for Acuff to retire in. That's nice, I said.

No, they answered - they're just waiting for him to die, then they can turn it into a museum and charge entry!

Such cynicism in country music? Dear me...! - Ian B

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Jeanie
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 07:33 AM

This question of the Great Speckled Bird came up outside Mudcat a few weeks ago, and out of curiosity I found myself spending ages trawling through (some of !) the 9,660 entries in Google and then through numerous Bible commentaries and concordances.

This is what I found, which has not yet been mentioned in previous posts:

Summary of the book of Jeremiah: Jeremiah warns the people of Judah about their coming captivity, which is God's judgement for their persistant sins and failure to live as God's people should. The people have chosen to ignore God; now God will ignore them, but only for a time. God also promises to restore His people when they turn back to Him. Jeremiah tells the people that judgement should not be looked at merely as punishment, but rather as a loving act by God to restore His people to Himself.

God's people had become vultures, birds of prey, and therefore unworthy of a place in God's house. Birds of prey were not allowed to be offered in sacrifice to God in the Temple.

They are continually pulling and pecking at one another, speckled with shed blood. They have made their country a cock-pit.

The Hebrew root word behind the word "speckled" is the same as the one behind the word "to colour", so as well as denoting a speckling with blood, it also denotes a blending together of the Law of Moses with the paganism of the surrounding nations, a mxing of the superstitious with the divine.

The birds round about (the surrounding nations) are against her. Those that have made a prey of others shall themselves be preyed on.

In other words, to be like a "great speckled bird" is not good ! However, underneath all of this wrath of God is His love for His people and the ultimate promise of His mercy.

This means that the implications, in various verses of the song,that the great speckled bird is somehow "better" than the rest, are theologically rather "off-beam". Likewise the part which mentions the bird's "meekness".

It seems to me that the songwriter has totally misinterpreted the Jeremiah passage in the first place. The great speckled bird in the Bible is certainly not something to be admired or aspired to.

This song was adopted by a denomination known as the "Church of God", who felt themselves attacked by other denominations, and therefore identified with the bird in the song being attacked by others. I didn't note down the reference, but when I was looking all this up, I did find a reference to Roy Acuff having been a member of the Church of God.

- Jeanie

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 12:23 AM

The "Great Speckled Bird," by Rev. Guy Smith, consists of eight four-line verses. The longer version by Acuff, Number (2) given in the DT, contains the original words by Smith, but has two errors which were perpetuated in one of Acuff's recordings. The verses are run together, as well.
Verse 1:
(G)What a beautiful thought I am (C)thinking,
Con(D)cerning a great speckled (G)bird.
Remember her name is re(C)corded
On the (D)pages of God's Holy (G)Word.
(Acuff sang "On the pages of pure shining gold")

Verse 4:
Desiring to lower her standard,
They watch every move that she makes;
They long to find fault with her teachings,
But really they find no mistake.
(Acuff sang "But they cannot find any mistakes")

I have added Acuff's chords. His first recording, (1937) did not include verses 2, 3, 5 or 6.

Guy Smith's poem was printed in 1936 in a newspaper, before Roy Acuff's copyright. Smith may have obtained the idea from an earlier hymn or poem. (Traditional Ballad Index)

Subject: ADD: Speckled Bird No. 4
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 09:03 PM

Transcribed, as recorded by BIG SLIM THE LONE COWBOY (5/9/04 - 10/13/66)
"Star Of WWVA Wheeling Jamboree"

~S~

================================================

SPECKLED BIRD No. 4


What a beautiful thought to be thinking
Of that heavenly home bright and fair
Where God waits in all of His glory
To receive all His children up there.

God has told me He He'd take me to heaven
And I know that His promise is true.
That Great Speckled Bird He'll be sending
And I know it will carry me through.

My mother is waiting to greet me
In that home where no sorrows can dwell.
To this old world of sin and its trouble
Soon I'll be bidding them farewell.

When my life with its troubles is ended,
And my burdens they no longer I can bear,
God will send His white angel in its glory,
To take me with Him to dwell up there.

I can see that great bird now preparing
To make her long-expected flight.
I can hear sinners crying for mercy,
As she speeds through that dark and fatal night.

Everyone has been warned of its coming--
To be ready on that glad memorial day.
When the Great Speckled Bird comes descending,
I'll be ready to go on my way.


SOURCE:
ROSE THE RECORD LADY
(You can find the Real Audio recording there.)

SH

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CHILD'S SIDE OF LIFE (Wayne Raney)
From: Gene
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 03:16 AM

also on Rose The Record Lady Website-
Archives Page 11

THE CHILD'S SIDE OF LIFE
Recorded by: Wayne Raney

A little Boy stood cryin' in a courtoom
Before a Judge with face so grim and cold
He brought tears to the eyes of all the Jury
As they listened to the story that he told.

I know my Mom's not a Honky Tonk Angel
I know she's not as bad, like people say
I know my Daddy didn't mean the words he uttered
When he said she went a wild and wicked way.

I know my Daddy loves me and and he loves my Mommy
'Cause he told us that the day he said goodbye
He wouldn't tell us that he loved us and not mean it
I know my Daddy wouldn't tell his Son a lie.

I couldn't live without Mommy and Daddy
They mean so much to me Judge, don't you see
There'd be no Mom to kiss and tuck me in at bedtime
There'd be no Dad to hold and bounce me on his knee.

So would you ask my Daddy if he'll kiss my Mommy
As Mother, she will kiss my Daddy too
Then I know that all my Prayers have been answered
And the three of us can start our lives anew.

A silence fell upon that crowded Courtroom
Each one thought of the words that Jesus Saves
A little child shall lead them, was that wisdon
And homes began to build instead of graves.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From:
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 10:36 PM

Gene -

Thanks, I'm sending a PM.

Mary

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 07:32 PM

RE: Giac@Brian's [Mary] comments....
For those interested in-

'SONG OF SONGS'
and
'THERE'S A GRAND OLE OPRY SHOW PLAYING SOMEWHERE'

I can upload a RealMedia file of it to website

or you can leave a MUDCAT personal message
if you want EMAIL COPY

and YES I ARE A MEMBER.....
But I ENABLE/DISABLE cookies daily

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 06:50 PM

Clarifying-- TRAMP ON THE STREET and WINGS OF A DOVE are similar to one another, not the same as GSB.

~S~

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Micca
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 03:48 PM

Banjer, you havent heard, " flushed from the bathroom of your heart" to the same tune?

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 03:13 PM

Boxcar Willie did 'There's Nothing Like A Good Old Country Song' to the tune of the GSB. I found it on Rose's web site. Pretty song no matter what the words are.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 02:17 PM

... and since the tune is also similar to I'M USING MY BIBLE FOR A ROAD MAP-- that's my plan for research on it.

BTW, ever notice TRAMP ON THE STREET and WINGS OF A DOVE are almost the same too? Now the dove, that's one's easy.

~S~

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:51 PM

Well get him going on it then Matt!

The offer to sing the song at Newman!

~S~

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Matt_R
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:45 PM

Father Tom has knows everything that has to do with Biblical reseach, and has a huge library of thousands of book on the subject. All alphabetized, he has on average 5 books on each "book" of the Bible.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:37 PM

I'm just starting the research, as of yesterday. What I have so far is that the bird is a "taloned" "swooper" which is speckled... these are the word pictures folded up in the Hebrew words used in the verse in Jeremiah. The Jeremiah passage, however, does not fully support all of the verses of the song. That will take some more digging, trhrough the prophets as well as the New testament. What will be interesting about that is that the language shifts from one testment to the next-- Hebrew for OT, Greek for NT. The sense of the word pictures shifts accordingly.

We need to do this research so that when we introduce the piece in our church, we can say how it fits with what they already understand. Classical seminary for Hardi did not happen to include a course on Great Speckled Birds!

I'd love to hear from anyone else who knows how to do Bible research-- most of the things that have been said so far are small slices of the whole bird and little servings of the stuffing, when compared to the treasures of the whole dish the hymnmaker has cooked up and served for our nourishment. Let's see if we can get the whole picture though before slinging around parodies and cute comments. Or the only thing speckled and avian around here will be the mutant crow shreds hanging outta some of our mouths! Nothing great about that!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: artbrooks
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:03 PM

My Hebrew is pretty rusty, but the word in my Hebrew bible transliterates as "ayim", which is a vulture.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 09:22 AM

I think when taken in context the meaning becomes clear...
'Desiring to lower her standards, they watch every move that she makes, They long to find fault with her teachings, but really they find no mistakes...
That sounds more like 'they' are trying to find a way to discredit than conquer.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From:
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 09:06 AM

GUEST, Gene:

Although noted with There's A Grand Ole Opry Show Playing Somewhere that the tune is I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes, the lyrics read more like There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere.

Although somewhat similar, the tunes, as I know them anyhow ~;o), are different.

Mark:

I, too, always heard the word as "standard," meaning flag, and lowering her standard, would mean bringing down her flag in defeat.

It seems that churches are often referred to in the feminine, as are ships, thus "her" standard?

- Mary

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 12:58 AM

I love it! Oh man... I think I'm about to have an epiphany... no, wait... it's a... oh crap. I can't even remember what it's called any more.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 12:50 AM

Yeah Mark, it would also kinda' make you come up with a different definition of "bird."..........a bit more like the English slang perhaps? Of course then you'd need to maybe change the line to "sweet, freckled bird."

Spaw

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 12:34 AM

Are you sure it's her standards they are desiring to lower? I've always heard and sung it as standard meaning flag or banner placed by and representing the "forces" of the Church. Big difference in meaning.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 12:21 AM

The tune also pops up in "Can I Sleep in your Barn Tonight, Mister".

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 04:51 PM

Traditional hens, those back in biblical times, were more likely to be speckled than solid. Our solid white, black and brown chickens would have been pecked to death in a minute if they had materalized in that time period. At least, so says one more familiar with fowl than the bible. So there, you chicken pluckers!

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 02:34 PM

This 486 and my headache slowed me down too much to find the site with Strong's numbers inserted in the King James text. But the Almanac I have does have Hebrew bird names, so if anyone has the Hebrew word to offer from the Jeremiah cite or the Revelation one-- pony up and I'll see what I have.

The Bird in the song stands in for a variety of images, not just one... it's a teaching on several things at once. It's a lot, all folded up into the metaphor. Shall I say more? If so-- later.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Matt_R
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 02:20 PM

And he will raise you up on eagle's wing
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of his hand...

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Amos
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 02:09 PM

Ebbie -- I think you got it -- the speckled one, being of unexpected hue, is rejected by the white or black or brown hens (or whatever they are) for being different.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 02:09 PM

Maybe the other birds are not GREAT, but smaller. I dunno. DUH, what if I pull out the BIBLE ALMANC right here at my left hand.... native birds... hmmm.....

"Birds were common in Palestine and the people of biblical times used them for many different purposes..... Bible writers often used birds to descibe man's spiritual condition.... Again, the writers of Scripture were fascinated by the magnificence of the eagle and its ability to soar in the sky. For this reason, they used the symbol of the eagle to challenge man to rise above his circumstances and follow God (cf Prov. 23:5)."

I think I'll go over to Beliefnet and use the online Bible tools there to see which Hebrew word is used in the citations given above-- my ALmanac lists the birds by our word and Hebrew word. BRB.

~S~

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 01:57 PM

I don't understand the significance of 'speckled'. In the context, does it mean that the 'other' birds are solid colored and the speckled one is different? Maybe kind of like the ugly duckling which turns out to be a swan?

Point of interest: An immature bald eagle is speckled- it doesn't gain its distinctive white head and tail until it's around 4 or 5 years old.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 11:33 AM

That's wonderful. My mind sort of sang me to sleep last night on that tune, done medium slow, so genteel, so sweet. Now I have a song with lyrics that I can use to illustrate the folk process with kids I will be working with. Thanks!

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A GRAND OLE OPRY SHOW PLAYING...
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 11:31 AM

Another tribute to country music song-

THERE'S A GRAND OLE OPRY SHOW PLAYING SOMEWHERE
Recorded by Red Johnson
Words and music by Bud Auge and Red Johnson

Sung to the tune of:
"I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes."

There's a Grand Ole Opry Show playing somewhere
In a distant land so many miles away
Only country music's greatest get to go there
Where I wish that I could also go someday.

I'd see Williams, Horton, Patsy Cline and Copas
Hawkshaw Hawkins and Jack Anglin, too
There's a Grand Ole Opry Show playing somewhere
In a distant land so far beyond the blue.

As the Velvet curtains open in the twilight
Choirs of Angels sings the sweetest harmony
As the show goes on in Hillbilly Heaven
What a beautiful sight it must be.

Jimmie Rodgers is the M.C. of the evening
One by one he calls each artist from the wings
To perform and do the songs they've made so famous
As the melodies are played on golden strings.

There's a Grand Ole Opry Show playing somewhere
On a starlit stage so many miles away
Only country music's greatest get to go there
Where I wish that I could also go someday.

SOURCE:
The World of Country Music
Capitol NPB-5

Subject: Lyr Add: SONG OF SONGS
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 17 Mar 01 - 11:20 AM

The late BOXCAR WILLIE bundled them up
in a duet with WILLIE NELSON

SONG OF SONGS
Recorded by Boxcar Willie w/Willie Nelson
Written by Vern Stovall, Bill Palmer & Lloene Martin

Sung to the tune of:
I'M THINKING TONIGHT OF MY BLUE EYES

How I love that old melody they're playing
I heard it in so many different songs
It made stars out of country music singers
And somehow it just keeps playin' on.

Oh I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes
Seems to me it's been around since time began
It was there with our soldiers during wartime
And right today, we still hear it, now and then.

Roy Acuff was young country singer
His records were just starting to be heard
That old tune took him right up to stardom
On The Wings Of The Great Speckled Bird.

Hank Thompson is a country music legend
He sang western swing and songs of peace and strife
That same tune gave old Hank the break he needed
On a record called The Wild Side Of Life.

A young girl made the world stop and listen
Kitty Wells was that young singer's name
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
That melody rang clear as country rain.

Oh those notes must come straight out of heaven
In so many different songs they were the same
I know someday they'll be etched in gold forever
And placed in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

TAG:
And placed in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

SOURCE:
BOXCAR WILLIE/BOXCAR WILLIE
1986 MCA Records MCA 39052

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 11:30 PM

Well, it took a recording of Bluegrass Gospel Hits for me to finally find this tune all the rest of yo u knew all along, whcih I have had words to for YEARS.... and we sang it tonight with our jam group for what seemed like hours of delightful pickin' and authoharpin'.

I'm sure it was delightful but I am not sure it was hours, though after a bit I had to quit strummin' an' rock a babygirl off to sleep on my shoulder as I sang it over her sleepy little warm fuzzy head. That pertickler babygirl has been part of our jam group since afore she was borned, when she was still inside her mama. Mama was here too... daddie plays geetar in our group, and with me sometimes for our Saturday night service, but tonight was mama's birthday and they came over after dinner to jam anyway. I was proud they came, and glad they brought Katarina... mama feel out all sleep in Hardi's recliner. The rest played so pretty, and I got the baby and the melody.

I know I'll never forget all that, when I sing it the rest of my life, and I know Katarina won't either.

I'm gonna put all the verses I can find all together in one big long ole hymn an' do 'er up in church soon's I can. An' I'll tell them all about the Mudcat and how the story was right here when I came looking for it.

Them Ecopalian's dunno much about them birds but I tole Hardi the story would be here, an' he like this right fine.

~S~

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: canoer
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 02:47 PM

Art, didn't know you did drywall in your day job.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 11:54 AM

The truth about the "mottled avian": it was the 60's backup band to Ian & Sylvia ... y'know, Ian Tyson and Sylvia (then Fricker) Tyson. Honest! Canadians do not kid about things like this, not about folkies from the days when an hour was longer than 22 minutes.

S&D,
CH

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Amos
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM

Oooohhhhh Art. You must have been stone plastered when you came up with that one. Ya laid it on kinda thick there. :>)

A

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 11:38 AM

Art, there is NOTHING FRESH about that pun and to REFRESH it is an abomination of taste. It was really bad in the best sense of the word.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 11:26 PM

There was a fine four star film done in 1941 about this I'm pretty sure.It was directed by John Huston and featured Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Ward Bond, Lee Patrick and Jerome Cowan (among others). Bogey plays Dashiel Hammett's detective Sam Spade. This great film was previously issued in 1931 and also in 1936 (as SATAN MET A LADY). This film, called The Great Spackled Bird, was probably better known as The Maltese Falcon.

Art Thieme (sheepishly)

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 06:31 AM

It's Jeremiah, Chapter 12, Verse 9 (Jer 12:9):

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

Click here for the entire chapter, so you can read it in context.
The Revised Standard Version translation is:

Is my heritage to me like a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her round about? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.

I think the RSV is a little easier to understand.
But in the song, the church is like the great speckled bird.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Eluned
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 02:20 AM

The Christian Church is an Emu?! I'll buy that!!

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 12:49 AM

Oh......Well OK....I guess it could have been a free range Emu.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: DADGBE
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 12:30 AM

When will we folkies stop looking for obscure meanings when the obvious truth lies before us? The Great Speckled Bird is a large avian with mottled plumage.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 08:06 PM

Love the story Banj............And Peter, isn't that the great thing about folk music to begin with? Learn one tune and you know half a dozen songs....if you like Woodt, you know 2 dozen!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 03:27 PM

Banjer, great story! Like all those Irish songs -- Wearing of the Green, etc. Learn one, get one free.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 03:18 PM

If you visit any on-line Bible site and search for "great speckled bird" you'll find the reference. I think it's in Revelation (The Apocalypse of John). The great speckled bird (as the song says) represents "the great Church of God."

- Mark

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Banjer
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 11:46 AM

Thanks to all, I don't remember such a good response the first time around! I had a good laugh with my banjo instructor at the time by telling him that during his absence I had learned at least four songs! He asked to hear them and I played The Great Speckled Bird for him. This was followed by silence....broken only by his asking "Well, what are the other three?" My reply to him was that the tune also covered "Wild Side Of Life", "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", and "I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes"!

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: harpgirl
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM

...for my money, Lucinda Williams' version of this song "talks to me"...harp

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 11:22 AM

And of course the tune also is used for "I'm Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes". Popular tune.

Rick

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 11:12 AM

Somewhere in the distant past somone told me that the Great speckled Bird is the Bible. I'm not sure if this helps.

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: jofield
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 08:44 PM

And the tune is such an anthem it got reused for "Wild Side of Life" and Kitty Wells' answer song.

James in Bristol, RI

Subject: RE: Who/what is THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD?
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 08:19 PM

Banjer

In case you are unaware of the following, I draw this passage to your attention:

[Roy] Acuff began his recording career in 1936, when William R. Calaway of the American Radio Corporation heard him singing 'The Great Speckled Bird' (the original record labels, however, spelled it 'Speckle' and to many people it will always bear that title). Set to a melody reminiscent of 'I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes', the song came to Acuff through the performances of another Knoxville radio group, Charlie Swain and the Black Shirts. The authorship of this famous song will probably always remain unknown, although it has been attributed to a Rev Gant and to Rev Guy Smith (Acuff also wrote four additional verses which became known as 'The Great Speckled Bird No 2'). The song, which pictures the church as a group of persecuted individuals who ultimately will gain eternal salvation as a reward for their earthly travail, is based upon the ninth verse of the twelfth chapter of Jeremia: 'Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her'. The song was popular not only as a recording hit but as a favorite in some of the Pentecostal Holiness churches as well. Vance Randolph, for example, heard it sung in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, as an official Assembly of God hymn, and W.J. Cash claimed that it was 'the official hymn of the Church of God'.
[Bill C. Malone 'Country Music USA' University of Texas Press Revised Edition 1985 pp 189-190]

Shelton and Golblatt ('The Country Music Story) also refer to the Jeremiah passage, but suggest the title of the song is a symbol for the Bible.

--Stewie.