The Great Speckled Bird is a hymn written in 1936 by Reverend Guy Smith. He was a church choir minister and one heard his song but the tune is from an old folk song called Thrills I Can't Forget written and first recorded by Welby Toomey in 1936/. Guy Smith born in Pittsburgh had thought the hymn and loved it and it has bean covered so much. It's good hearing what folk were saying about it and don't think the song of Jeramiah is the the Wild Side Of Life. Thanks from Joe (I first heard this on an American Roots album).