Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: voyager
Date: 06 Jul 22 - 09:39 AM

From the wayback machine -
"Now here's Brooklyn Boy ...." Ed Sullivan Show - Richie Havens (High Flying Bird)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: beachcomber
Date: 01 Jul 22 - 06:22 PM

Many thanks CND, - the very one !

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: cnd
Date: 01 Jul 22 - 11:21 AM

Looks like the Country Essentials album is a compilation/reissue album. Discogs albums date his recording to 1967 (Paper Birds), though it was performed first(?) by Judy Henske in 1963 on an album of the same name.

Joe, the questionable line is "And that old mule, he got to be a buddy of mine"

beachcomber, is this the song you were looking for? https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tompaxton/myladysawildflyingdove.html

---

Thanks, cnd. That makes perfect sense. Correction made. -Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: beachcomber
Date: 01 Jul 22 - 10:45 AM

Tom Paxton had a recording of a song with the same title, does anyone have the lyrics for that one, please ?

Subject: ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 22 - 03:58 AM

Here are the lyrics from a Billy Edd Wheeler album called Country Essentials. The album is dated 2011, but I think it is a reissue of a much earlier recording.

HIGH FLYING BIRD
(Billy Edd Wheeler)

There's a high flying bird up in the sky
And I wonder if that bird looks down as he flies by
Riding on the air so easy in the sky

The sun comes along ... lights up the day
And when he gets tired he slides on over the way
East to the West he gets gone every day

CHORUS
But Lord look at me here
Rooted like a tree here
I got the sit down, can't cry
Oh, Lord I'm gonna die blues

I used to have a mule ... and he worked in the mines
And that old mule, he got to be a buddy of mine.
Then one day my mule, he up and died

My mule up and died
My mule up and died
He had to fly away
And the only way to fly was to die

Repeat first stanza
CHORUS


Billy Edd Wheeler recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B34LD637m_8

Judy Henske recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ-So8S-29M

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: GerryM
Date: 29 Jun 22 - 07:38 PM

Here are the lyrics from the liner notes of the 1979 Billy Edd Wheeler album, Wild Mountain Flowers:

There's a high flying bird up in the sky
And I wonder if that bird looks down as he flies by
Riding on the air so easy in the sky

Sun comes along ... lights up the day
And when he gets tired he slides on over the way
East to the West he gets gone every day

Chorus:
But Lord look at me here
Rooted like a tree here
I got the sit down, can't cry
Oh, Lord I'm gonna die blues

I used to have an old man ... he worked in the mines
He never saw the sunlight but oh Lord he kept on a-tryin
Then one day my daddy, he up and died

My old man up and died
My daddy up and died
He had to fly away
And the only way to fly was to die

Repeat first stanza

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord ADD: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: gillymor
Date: 29 Jun 22 - 04:54 PM

Yep, it was one of the high points of Haven's shows, Jefferson Airplane covered it too.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord Req: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: voyager
Date: 29 Jun 22 - 02:57 PM

great song from Richie Havens .... and an advertisement for Satellite Radio (Video Killed the Radio Star).

voyager

Subject: Chords Add: HIGH FLYING BIRD (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 07:32 PM

There's a (Am)high flyin' bird, (D)way up in the (Am)sky now(D),
You know(Am) I wonder if she (D)looks down,(Em) as she flies on (Am)by?
Well,she's (F)flying on the air so (G)easy in the (E)sky.

Lord, look at(Am) me here(D),
I'm rooted like a (Am)tree here,(D) yes i am now.
I got those (Am)sit-down,
(G)can't cry (F)Oh Lord, im (E)gonna die (Am)blues.

You know the sun come around(D) and lights up the (Am)day now,(D)
And when(Am) he gets (D)tired you (Em)know he roles on his (Am)way
To the(F) east and to the west,
(G)You know he meets God every (E)day.

Lord, look at(Am) me here,(D)
I'm rooted like a (Am)tree here, (D)yes i am now.
I got those(Am) sit-down,
(G)can't cry(F) Oh Lord, im (E)gonna die(Am) blues.

Now (Am)I had a woman (D)
Lord, she lived down by the (Am)mine,(D)
She ain't (Am)never seen the (D)sun,
(Em)Oh Lord, never stopped (Am)crying.

Then (F)one day my woman ,
(G)Lord, she up and (E)died now.
Oh Lord, she up and (Am)died now(D).
She wanted to (Am)die(D),
And the (Am)only way for her to (G)fly(F) (E) was to die(Am).

There's a (Am)high flyin' bird, (D)flying way up in the (Am)sky,(D)
And I (Am)wonder if she(D) looks down(Em) as she goes on(Am) by?
Well, she's (F)flying so freely(G) in the (E)sky.

Lord, look at (Am)me here(D),
I'm rooted like a (Am)tree here(D),
Got those (Am)sit-down,(G) can't cry,
(F)Oh, Lord,(E) gonna die (Am)blues.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chord Req: High Flying Bird (Billy Ed Wheeler)
From: GUEST,George
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 07:29 PM

Billy Edd's original version had the word "mule" and not "man" but everybody changed it to man, even Billy Edd'd own later versions. While I understand why, I find the miner's attachment to his hard working and always trusted friend, who, at times, may have been closer to the miner than his family, made perfect sense in this coal miner's poet.
    Otherwise the above is right. It was on the "Paper Birds B.E.W." recording by Kapp. One of his bests with also "The Can't put it back".

Subject: Billy Ed Wheeler
From: GUEST,J Kann
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 05:26 AM

Does anybody know any of the music to Billy Ed Wheeler's song High Flying Bird?

Subject: RE: Chord Request High Flying Bird
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Jan 01 - 01:31 AM

Well, I found a URL that was unreachable, but the synopsis gave........Bb, C#m,Ab,C#.......does that help at all? (I assume you don't want the Elton John song of the same title.......)

Subject: Chord Request High Flying Bird
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 13 Jan 01 - 12:25 AM

By Billy Ed Wheeler. same as the Henske version. If you have chords to song, please post.

Regards, Ted from Australia

Subject: Chord Req: High Flying Bird
From: Driscoll
Date: 20 Oct 99 - 11:01 PM

Have a nice version of Billy Ed Wheeler's High Flying Bird sung by Caroline Hester but not quite adept enough to figure out the chords for the song from the record. Can anyone help on this one. Thanks.

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: AlistairUK
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 01:43 PM

this record thing is it to do with vinyl? If it is then is it some kind of kinky ritual? and can I join in?

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 01:40 PM

Alistair,

Our drummer has a record. But he is allowed out on weekends and he has to wear this electric bracelet on his ankle. But we expect that, he is after all a drummer.

Don

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: AlistairUK
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 10:38 AM

erm...whats a record?

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: Cheryl in the Blue Ridge
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 10:07 AM

Thanks everyone for your posts and to you Driscoll for the lyrics! Roger if you **really** want to hear the song without digging through the attic (at least you still HAVE your records!) Rhino Records has an album: Troubadors of the Folk Era 1992 Vol L R-2 70263 that includes Judy Henske with High Flying Bird, also has some Tom Rush, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Richie Havens (!), and Kweskin among others. Cheryl

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 07:38 AM

According to our New Christies Minstrel, "New Kick" album (circa 1966) the writer of the version posted above was Billy Ed Wheeler.

My wife Carolynne also recorded a version in Perth Western Australia when she fronted for a folk/pop group called Doghouse Friday ( we still have the 45)

Regards Ted

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 06:13 AM

Cheryl,

Like others on this site, I have an LP collection that has been stored and is no longer alphabetized (thanks to multiple moves). I have LP's that I can no longer easily find. Judy Henske's is among them. But I see you have the lyrics to "High Flyin' Bird". I see there is a start of words to Blues (My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me) on the THREAD (CLICK HERE) that I started for that song.

Enjoy the music!

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: Lyr Add: HIGH FLYING BIRD (from Carolyn Hester)
From: Driscoll
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 11:44 PM

Have a version of "High Flying Bird" on an old record by Carolyn Hester, circa 1965. One of my favorites. By Billy Edd Wheeler. Think its about same as the Henske version. If you have chords to song, please post.

There's a high flying bird way up in the sky
And I wonder does he looks down as he flys on by
He's a riding on the air so easy in the sky
Well Lord look at me here, I'm rooted like a tree here
I got the sit down, I can't cry
Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues

Now the sun comes along, oh Lord it lights up the day
And when he gets tired he flys on over the way
Oh its east to the west and he gets gone every day
Well Lord look at me here, I'm rooted like a tree here
I got the sit down, I can't cry
Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues


I had a man and he lived in a mine
Now he never saw the sun but he never stopped trying
And then one day my man up and died
I said my man up and died, yes my man up and died
Well he wanted to fly
And the only way to fly was to die


repeat first verse

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 09:37 PM

Hi, Cheryl - I have that song on a We Five CD, I think. If nobody comes up with Henske's exact lyrics, I'll do a transcription for you late this evening. Remind me if I forget.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: DonMeixner
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 09:35 PM

" BluesMy Naughty..." was a favorite of Robin and Linda Williams when they were on the college coffee house circuit. I'msure its on the data bases somewhere.

As for Judy Henske, I have that LP. Its in the attic of no return however. When can I get in there to search depends on how soon the roofs are repaired. Tornado damage still left over from Labor Day. Insurance is a slow thing to rely on, no matter how good their hands are.

Don.

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: Cheryl in the Blue Ridge
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 08:26 PM

Roger, thanks for the help... I'm new at this. Are you asking where you can find the Henske LP or was that rhetorical?

Here is what I remember of the lyrics:

There's a high flying bird
Way up in the sky
And I wonder if he looks down
As he flies on by
Flyin in the air so easy la la la (and free??)

Lord look at me here
I'm rooted like a tree here
I got them sit down, can't cry
Oh Lord I want to die blues.

I once knew a man (?)
You know he worked in a mine
Lord he never saw the sunlight
But Lord he never stopped tryin
As east to the west he (it?) got gone every day (?)

Lord look at me here (etc)

That's all I can do and not sure of a lot of it, as you can see.
Cheryl PS Naughty Sweetie goes in part: Oh There are blues That you get from la la la (sleepless nights is in there somewhere, but maybe not here) And there are blues That you get from pain Blues when you are lonely For your one and only And Blues you can never explain.

Cheryl

Subject: RE: High Flying Bird
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 07:58 PM

Cheryl,

It is most efficient to post one song per thread. You aren't hogging when you do that. It just makes it easier to attract the attention of someone who knows the song. I clicked on this one because I always liked the song. Unfortunately, I am at a loss for words (and can I find that Judy Henske LP?)

I took the liberty of posting "Naughty Sweetie" on a separate thead so look here.

Good luck on finding these lyrics, someone will know.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: High Flying Bird
From: Cheryl in the Blue Ridge
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 09:25 AM

Does anyone know where I can find the lyrics for "High Flying Bird" and "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me" - both recorded by Judy Henske in the '60s altho I heard "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me" first by Jim Kweskin (Jug Band Music) - what a difference eh? Thanks, :)