1 - 6. The Bird Song (Roud 247) Sung by Maud Long. Hot Springs, Madison County, NC. September, 1950.

THE BIRD SONG

Said the robin as he flew
'When I was a young man I'd choose two
If one didn't love me the other one would
And don't you think that notion's good?'

Said the blackbird to the crow
'What makes white folks hate us so?

For ever since old Adam was born
It's been our trade for to pull up corn'

'Hoot' said the owl with his head so white
A lonesome day and a lonesome night
Thought I heard some pretty girl say
She'd court all night and sleep next day

'No, no, no,' says the turtle dove
'That's no way for to gain her love
If you want to gain her heart's delight
Keep her awake both day and night'

One for the money and two for to go
And I want another string to my bow, bow, bow
One for the money and two for to go
And I want another string to my bow, bow, bow


Talking birds feature in a number of songs and ballads.
Maud Long's song is related to at least two 17th century songs, The Birds Harmony (Oh! Says the cuckoo, loud and stout), also called The Woody Queresters, and The Bird's Lamentation, both of which were also printed in the 18th century. The verse about the Blackbird and the Crow ("What makes the white folk hate us so?") probably comes from the Minstrel Stage of the mid 1800's. Maud Long's tune is associated with one which is often used for the song The Young Man Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn (Roud 438). Other recordings: Clint Howard (TN). Smithsonian-Folkways SF 40029/30, as The Old Man at the Mill. Virgil Sandage (Indiana) - Dust-to-Digital DTD-12.

Source: Album notes from When Cecil Left the Mountains: Historic recordings of Appalachian singers and musicians 1927 - 1955
MTCD514-5, Musical Traditions Records


Elizabeth LaPrelle sings almost these same lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU2ESdij2vs