Lyr Req: As Free a Little Bird as Can Be

Subject: I'm As Free A Little Bird As I Can Be
From: GUEST,Robinpg
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 09:49 AM

hello all. I'm looking for the lyrics to this song. I knew it from the singing of Clarence Ashley.

if anyone has it, please send along to [e-mail]

thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm As Free A Little Bird As I Can Be
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 10:19 AM

It's at Max Hunter's site--Click here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm As Free A Little Bird As I Can Be
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:13 AM

Recording of a different version at this site . No transcription but the lyrics are remarkably clear. Get out a pen & write'em down.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm As Free A Little Bird As I Can Be
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:17 AM

Sorry, try this one Click Here . It takes you directly to the oldtime part of the site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm As Free A Little Bird As I Can Be
From: GUEST,Foe
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:19 AM

It's on the Folkways album, Old Time Music at Clarence Ashleys. I'll look it up tonight and give more info tomorrow. What I remember is

I'm as free little bird as I can be
I'm as free little bird as I can be
I'm as free at my age as a bird in a cage
I'm as free little bird as I can be

Carry me home little birdy, carry me home (lns 1,2,4)
Carry me home to my wife, she's the joy of my life (ln 3)

I'll never build my nest on the ground
Neither in the forks of a tree
I'll build my nest in the ruffles of her dress
Where the bad boys can never bother me

Subject: Lyr Add: FREE LITTLE BIRD
From: masato sakurai
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 07:52 PM

"Free Little Bird" on Clarence Ashley And Doc Watson: The Original Folkways Recordings, 1960-1962. Dykes Magic City Trio's version (rec. March 10, 1927) is at Old Time Music from 78s at honkingduck.com (Bee-dubya-ell's site). Another version:

FREE LITTLE BIRD

I'm as free a little bird as I can be,
I'm as free a little bird as I can be,
I'll build my nest in the sour apple tree,
Where those bad boys will never bother me.

Oh, who will shoe your little foot,
And who will glove your little hand,
And who will kiss your sweet rosy cheeks
When I'm gone to that far distant land?

Oh, it's mama will shoe my little foot,
And it's papa will glove my little hand,
And it's you shall kiss my sweet rosy cheeks
When you come from that far distant land.

Take me home, little birdie, take me home,
Take me home by the light of the moon,
With the moon a-shining bright and the stars a-giving light
Take me home to my mama, take me home.

(SOURCE: Ruth Crawfords Seeger, American Folk Songs for Children, Doubleday, 1948, p. 120; with music)

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: FREE LITTLE BIRD
From: Ferrara
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 08:42 PM

Here's a variant on the version Bee-dubya-ell linked to:

FREE LITTLE BIRD

(can't remember who was singing this version. I taped it off Mary Cliff's Traditions show years ago, during a special on women's songs. - Rita)

CHORUS: Oh I'm as free a little bird as I can be, I can be
I'm as free a little bird as I can be
I'm gonna build my nest in a high, high tree
Where the bad boys cannot bother me

1. Oh I'll never build my nest on the ground, on the ground
Oh I'll never build my nest on the ground
I'm gonna build my nest in a high, high tree
Where the bad boys cannot tear it down (CHORUS)

2. Oh I'll never steal the honey from the bee, from the bee
I'll never steal the honey from the bee
I'm gonna steal me a kiss from my sweet baby's lips
Then I'll fly on away across the sea (CHORUS)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm As Free A Little Bird As I Can Be
From: masato sakurai
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 10:28 PM

The Traditional Ballad Index: Free Little Bird:

Free Little Bird
DESCRIPTION: "I'm as free little bird as I can be (x2), I'm as free at my age as a bird in a cage, I'm as free little bird...." "Take me home, little birdie, take me home...." "Oh, I won't build my nest on the ground...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: c. 1930 (recording, Dykes Magic City Trio)
KEYWORDS: nonballad courting bird home
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Darling-NAS, pp. 268-269, "Free a Little Bird" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 391, "Free Little Bird" (1 text)
RECORDINGS:
Roscoe Holcomb, "I'm a Free Little Bird" (on Holcomb1, HolcombCD1)
Dykes Magic City Trio, "Free Little Bird" (Brunswick 129, 1927; on CrowTold01)
File: FSWB391A
........................................

More information is in W.K. McNeill, Southern Mountain Folksongs (August House, 1993, pp. 81-86).

~Masato