Origin: What Are Those Things with Big Black Wings

Subject: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:33 PM

This is an amazing song. I'm wanting to know who had a hit of it (if it ever was a hit)----and who else might've recorded it----and wrote it??! Here is the chorus:

What are those things with big black wings,
Circling, descending from high overhead,
Lie to me, tell me that they're only robins,
Tell me that your love for me will never be dead.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:40 PM

http://users.bigpond.net.au/clarks/whatare.htm

Subject: RE: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:42 PM

Recorded by Roger Miller, but I don't know if he had a hit with it.

From here.
(Same link as posted above by Bill Kennedy.)

WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS WITH BIG BLACK WINGS

Frazier/Owens

What are those things, with big black wings,
Circling, descending from up over head?
Lie to me, tell me that they're only robins.
Tell me that your love for me will never be dead.

Today all the rooms in our home feel like strangers.
I wonder what makes me feel so out of place.
And why have you suddenly emptied your closets,
And why can't you look me in the face?

What are those things, with big black wings,
Circling, descending from up over head?
Lie to me, tell me that they're only robins.
Tell me that your love for me will never be dead.

You faithfully promised me you would never leave me
You told me your heart had no room for the guise.
But tell me what puts all this distance between us.
And who put that leaving in your eyes?

What are those things, with big black wings,
Circling, descending from up over head?
Lie to me, tell me that they're only robins.
Tell me that your love for me will never be dead.

What are those things, with big black wings,
Circling, descending from up over head?
Lie to me, tell me that they're only robins.
Tell me that your love for me will never be dead.

Subject: RE: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:48 PM

I believe that should be Dallas Frazier (lyrics) & Buck Owens (music), recorded by Roger Miller, as Jeru noted, and thanks for posting the lyrics, links are useless in a database like this because the sites frequently disappear.

Subject: RE: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 03:51 PM

scratch that, it was A. L. 'Doodle' Owens, not Buck

"Encouraged by Ray Price, A.L. "Doodle" Owens moved to Nashville in 1965 from his hometown of Waco, Texas. The following year, he teamed up with Dallas Frazier and the two went on to write more than 100 songs that became A-side singles. Owens' compositions helped boost the careers of Brenda Lee, Moe Bandy and, particularly, Charley Pride. He also wrote hits for Jerry Lee Lewis, Connie Smith, George Jones and Doug Stone, among others. His major works include "All I Have To Offer You Is Me," "(I'm So) Afraid Of Losing You Again," "Touching Home," "Just For What I Am," "Fourteen Minutes Old," "The Right Left Hand" and "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me."

Subject: RE: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: Francy
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:37 PM

I've got a Capitol recording of this by Charlie Louvin.... Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Who recorded this?(for ArtT.)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 11:11 PM

Thanks folks.

Art