The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #49460   Message #746741
Posted By: radriano
11-Jul-02 - 04:28 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Beautiful Bird, Sing On
Subject: ADD: Beautiful Bird, Sing On
A number of years ago while browsing on the Bodleian Library website I came across this song about birds that I liked a lot. Since broadsides don't come with melodies (and no tune was suggested on the sheet itself) I decided to try my hand at composing a tune for it.


Beautiful Bird, Sing On
Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding Collection

Beautiful bird in the morning sing,
Messenger dear the sunlight to bring,
While there are sorrowing hearts to cheer,
Beautiful bird thy mission is clear,
Fly while the morning dew silvers thy wing;
Bright with the lustre of early spring,
Singing wherever the dark shadows fall.
One little song will dispel them all
Sing on, beautiful bird

Beautiful bird in the window, sing,
Melodies rare, bright herald of spring,
Little bird render for summers to come,
Happy the heart and happy the home
Sing at the parting to soften the pain,
Sing till the greeting brings joys again,
Ever keep flying near sorrow and pain,
Bring back the smile to the sad eyes again,
Sing on, beautiful bird

Welcome the morning smile on the hill,
Sing open the eyes then slumbering still
And when the shadows of evening fall
Sing a good-night to the little ones all
Sing to the mariner out on the sea
Sing of the home he is longing to see
When loved ones vanish and bright hopes decay
Sing in the willow shade so tenderly
Sing on, beautiful bird

ABC Notation:

X:1
T:Beautiful Bird, Sing On
M:3/4
L:1/8
C:melody by R. Adrianowicz
S:Bodleian Library of Broadside Ballads, Harding Collection
K:F
C3F G2 | A2G2F2 | B2A2G2 | A6 |
A2F2D2 | C4A2 | B2c3A | G6 |
B3cd2 | c2A2G2 | F4D2 | B6 |
G3AF2 | C4A2 | BG2EF2 |
A2B2c2 |G2A2B2 | FG AB G2 |
A2F2D2 | C4A2 |B4G2 | F6 |
A2B2c2 | G2A2B2 | A2G2F2 | C6 |
G2A3F | C4A2 | B4E2 | F4 | c2 |
c3BG2 | GA BA G2-|G4 z2||