Lyr Req: Like a Songbird That Has Fallen

Subject: Lyr Add: LIKE A SONGBIRD THAT HAS FALLEN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 10:06 AM

I have listened carefully to the song via Spotify, and this is what I hear. (I realize the lyrics posted by VTim may be closer to what the songwriters intended.)


LIKE A SONGBIRD THAT HAS FALLEN
As sung by The Reel Time Travelers on "Cold Mountain" (soundtrack album)

Paths are there for us to follow; this is gospel I believe.
Angels are around us flying, truth and mercy to receive.

Pictures of uncommon nature, painted by a master's hand,
Draw me ever on life's journey, rendered thus to understand.

As a songbird that is fallen, only to regain the sky,
From this frozen shadow valley may my spirit fly.

Love is from no distance calling, faithful as the rising sun,
Warms the bitter heart in heartache, till the least of it is gone.

Clouds of fear and misconception wax and wane as if the moon.
So is innocence forsaken, till the will of God be known.

As a songbird that is fallen, only to regain the sky,
From this frozen shadow valley may my spirit fly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Like a Songbird That Has Fallen
From: GUEST,VTim
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 03:08 PM

This is obviously an incredibly late response, but thought it would be good to post the lyrics as shared in a recent email directly from Martha Scanlan, the Reeltime Travelers singer who recorded this on the Cold Mountain soundtrack. I haven't yet found a fully-correct version of the lyrics online, and they aren't printed in the CD liner notes, so high-time they get posted (hopefully without copyright infringement). This song is too special not to share:


Paths are there for us to follow, this is gospel I believe
Angels are around us flying, truth and mercy to receive

Pictures of uncommon nature, painted by a master's hand
draw us ever on life's journey, rendered thus to understand

Like a songbird that has fallen, only to regain the sky
from this frozen shadow valley may my spirit fly

Love is from no distance calling, faithful as the rising sun
warms the bitter stone of heartache, til the least of it is gone

Clouds of fear and misconception wax and wane as if the moon
So is innocence forsaken, til the will of God be known

Like a songbird that has fallen, only to regain the sky
from this frozen shadow valley may my spirit fly


*It sounds as though she sang "warms the bitter ~heart and~ heartache" on the Cold Mountain film, but perhaps "stone of" was the original intent of the song's authors, Bobby Neuwirth and T-Bone Burnett. And if not, it's at least another great option.

Thank you, Martha!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Like a Songbird That Has Fallen
From: black walnut
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 08:49 PM

Thanks Andrus!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Like a Songbird That Has Fallen
From: Andrus
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 02:47 PM

and then the second chorus is: "they must weary fly"

I think. Or, so I hear.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Like a Songbird That Has Fallen
From: Andrus
Date: 27 Oct 09 - 02:44 PM

I know that this is an old thread, but I just listened to it again, (my mother called me with the same question).

This is what I hear...

Chorus:
As a songbird that has fallen, only to regain the sky,
from this frozen shadow valley, we must weary fly.

–– A

Subject: RE: 'Like a Songbird' Lyrics help please (Cold Mtn)
From: black walnut
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 04:00 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: 'Like a Songbird' Lyrics help please
From: Peace
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 09:37 PM

[Thanks to [e-mail] for lyrics]

That is the attribution for the transcription that appears in your first post. I am now gonna go look s'more.

Subject: RE: 'Like a Songbird' Lyrics help please
From: black walnut
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 03:54 PM

(I sang this as a duet with JeffM this past summer - we both sang the melody line an octave apart, and JeffM played banjo. Nice and simple and a beautiful song. I'd like the words to be accurate as can be for the future, though.)

Subject: RE: 'Like a Songbird' Lyrics help please
From: black walnut
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 03:51 PM

Thanks Peace so much.

I don't trust the Reeltime version....first of all because they didn't spell valley with an 'e', and secondly because it just doesn't sound like "lay my weary head" to me on the recording. Does anyone have the recording from Cold Mountain and care to give it a listen?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: 'Like a Songbird' Lyrics help please
From: Peace
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 02:28 PM

PS The 'official' title is "Like a Songbird That Has Fallen".

Subject: RE: 'Like a Songbird' Lyrics help please
From: Peace
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 02:27 PM

It was written by Bobby Neuwirth and Henry Burnett. But every site I go to (so far) shows the Reeltime version which is the one you have above. I'll keep lookin'.

Subject: 'Like/As a Songbird' Lyrics help please
From: black walnut
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 12:14 PM

Needing a bit of help for the Mudcat gurus....this song is from Cold Mountain. The lyrics come up on the web, but don't match exactly to what I hear. Trouble is that what I hear isn't clear. Could someone help me - especially with the last line of the chorus - pretty please?


Paths are there for us to follow, this is gospel I believe
Angels are around us flying, truth and mercy to recieve
Pictures of uncommon nature, painted by a masters hand
Draw me ever on life's journey, rendered thus to understand

Chorus:
As a songbird that is/has? fallen, only to regain the sky,
from this frozen shadow valley * lay my weary head ??? *

Love is from no distance calling, faithful as the rising sun
Warms the bitter heart and heartache till the east of eden's gone
Clouds of fear and misconception, wax and wane as if the moon
So is in a sense forsaken, till the will of God be known

As a songbird that is fallen, only to regain the sky,
from this frozen shadow valley lay my weary head

Thanks!

~black walnut