Richie- If you're asking about my, "Bird in a Cage," I wrote it in the '60s, but I didn't record it until 1970, on my record, "Clear Waters Remembered." We recently reissued it as a CD and it should be on my website: www.jeanritchie.com The tune is an "old-timey" sounding one; the accompanying instruments on the record are banjo (Dick Weisman), guitar (Happy Traum), bass (Russ Savakus), fiddle (Eric Weisberg). It's an Up-sounding tune, and the banjo drives the singer (as in, say, "Pretty Polly"). I suppose I did borrow a few words and phrases from older songs in my repertoire, as has been done down the centuries.

The song is also published in, CELEBRATION OF LIFE, which is nigh unto 'out-of-print,' so we don't offer it for sale anymore. Here are the words as I wrote them:

I'm a bird in a cage, love,
(Just a) bird in a cage,
Begging for freedom,
(And I'm) dying a slave,
Dying a slave.

High on a mountain,
Valley so low,
All I can feel, dear,
(Is the) cold rain and snow,
Cold rain and snow.

Turn your back on me,
Court whom you please;
I can't forget you, (darlin',)
I can't get free,
I can't get free.

(For) I'm a bird in a cage, love,
(Just a) bird in a cage,
Begging for freedom,
Dying a slave,
Dying a slave.

Build up your walls, love,
Build them so high,
Only let me see you (darlin')
As you pass by,
As you pass by.

(For) I'm a bird in a cage, love,
(Just a) bird in a cage,
Begging for freedom, (and I'm)
Dying a slave,
Dying a slave.
© 1969 Jean Ritchie Geordie Music Pub. Co.

(The words in parentheses are ones that are just slipped into the tune as you need them).

Cari Norris sings this, also Aubrey Atwater, and John McCutcheon I think.
Hope all this concerns the song you want. If so, enjoy the music! I'll try to get son Jon to send the music online for you, if I can catch his coattails! JR