DTStudy:The One about the Bird in the Cage(Gorton)

Subject: Lyr Add: One about the Bird in the Cage(Gorton)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jun 17 - 02:38 AM

This is an edited DTStudy thread, and all messages posted here are subject to editing and deletion.
This thread is intended to serve as a forum for corrections and annotations for the Digital Tradition song named in the title of this thread.

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Intriguing song. Don't know much about it, but it's in Rise Up Singing (page 249) and I'm researching all the songs in the book.

THE ONE ABOUT THE BIRD IN THE CAGE
(Rutthy Taubb, formerly Ruthie Gorton)

CHORUS
My bird is learning how to fly
Soaring on the wings of her song
If sometimes she flies a bit too high
It's 'cause she was in my cage for so long

And I kept her in my cage
And I fed her everyday
I said "Little bird if you watch me
I'll show you the way
I'll teach you how to fly so high
I'll teach you how to sing
But if you want to be like me
I've got to clip your wings"

She said "I see you have the wisdom
That must come with age
It must be 'cause you love me
That you keep me in this cage"
Then one day my bird awoke
And found her song was gone
She asked me "What can it be?
Did I do something wrong?"

Well I got very angry
And I said "Bird, hang your head!
You're not singin' like you should
You cry all day instead
How can you behave so
After all I've done for you?"
And the more she tried
The more she cried and wondered what to do

Soon her tears of anguish
Turned to tears of rage
She said "How can I learn to fly
When you keep me in this cage?
Now I know that if I stay
I'll never learn to sing
So I am going far away
You can't teach me a thing!

You know my freedom is not something
You can give to me
I must take it for myself
If I want to be free
I've got to trust my own wings
If I want to learn to fly
In this cage I'll never sing
I've got to find the sky!"


Written by Ruthie Taub (formerly Gorton), ©1975 Ruthie Gorton

On Asleep At The Helm – www.peteralsop.com

Source: http://www.peteralsop.com/song/one-about-bird-cage

Peter Alsop recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XczmWMxpwSQ

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For comparison, here are the lyrics we have in the Digital Tradition Folk Song Database

THE BIRD IN THE CAGE
(Ruthie Gorton)

My bird is learning how to fly
Soaring on the wings of her song
If sometimes she flies a bit too high
It's 'cause she was in my cage for so long

And I kept her in my cage, and I fed her every day
I said, Little bird if you watch me, I'll show you the way
I'll teach you how to fly so high, I'll teach you how to sing
But if you want to be like me I've got to clip your wings

She said, I see you have the wisdom that must come with age
It must be 'cause you love me that you keep me in this cage
Then one day my bird awoke and found her song was gone
She asked me, What can it be, did I do something wrong?

Well I got very angry and I said, Bird, hang your head
You're not singing like you should, you cry all day instead
How can you behave so, after all I've done for you
And the more she tried, the more she cried, and wondered what to do

I've seen her tears of anguish turn to tears of rage
She said, How can I learn to fly when you keep me in this cage?
Now I know that if I stay, I'll never learn to sing
So I am going far away, you can't teach me a thing

You know my freedom is not something you can give to me
Well I must take it for myself if I want to be free
I've got to trust my own wings if I want to learn to fly
In this cage I'll never sing, I've got to find the sky

My bird is learning how to fly
Soaring on the wings of her song
If sometimes she flies a bit too high
It's 'cause she was in my cage for so long

@feminist @animal @freedom
filename[ BIRDFLY
MC