Irving Burgie does not claim authorship in his website, nor is it included in the list of songs copyright to him at ASCAP. I thought it was done by him for Harry Belafonte; that is incorrect. Gee, I thought the Burgie lyrics were good; I guess that in my old age I like "elevator music."
It seems that the lyrics a commonly known belong to the Bergmans & Luboff and/or Keith. Many performers listed, inc. Brothers 4; Harry Belafonte not included- did he ever record it?
"Yellow Bird" copyrights listed by ASCAP; for those curious about them.
Guilliard, Leontine ...........W B Music Corp.%Warner Chappell (Headed Nuts Cues- ?) Bergman, A. & M. & Luboff,+ Keith .. Threesome % Warner Chappell " " " ...............Walton Music Corp. (includes "Pajaro Amarillo") Michiru, Monday ................. Universal Polygram Bruland, Mark Field ...............(None listed) Thomas, Chester Allen ............Saxoo Appeal McCook & Jackson ............Roynet Music Fascinato & Taylor ..........(None listed) Gould, Alec ..............(None listed) Matthew, Phillip ..........Extreme Productions Fishman J. E. ............(None listed) Cochrane & Lantos .........KD Cosmic Songs % Roynet Taddei, D. D. ..............Sandy Cove % Taddei Kalamasz & Leroux ........ Cypress Creek Music King, E. J. Jr. ......... JRM Music