Hi folks. This beautiful song is a wonderful addition to the 'blackbirds and thrushes' list. As far as I know, there is one version only of Archie singing his own song, on youtube. I am posting the words as I have them below. It's hard to believe it's not on mudcat, but I can't find it here, or anywhere else. Do add it to your spring repertoire. Problem: I cannot hear what is the last line! So I have added what I sing.
BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES by ARCHIE FISHER If all the young ladies were blackbirds and thrushes, Sing merry, sing merry, oh fly not away; I'd find me a garden full of green flowering bushes Wherein they may nest in the sweet month of May With lilac and cherries and autumn's red berries And ah, they'd sing merry At dawn, eve and day.
And if all the young ladies were birds in my spinney Sing clearly, sing clearly, oh fly not from me; Not a thrush would I part with for ten golden guineas, Nor barter a blackbird for a pearl of the sea I'd love them so dearly So late and so early, And ah, they'd sing clearly At dawn, day and eve.