THE CUCKOO BIRD & THE CUCKOO MEDLEY

[KARLP712]

Can someone give me the background of these two songs? Also does anyone have the lyrics for The Cuckoo Bird? Thanks.

[silentmark]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo_%28song%29

I believe the medley is a combination of traditional songs called the Cuckoo's Nest & Leather Britches, I am alittle hazy at this time of the morning

[Scott]

Yeah, and one other tune I'm blanking on, Mark, but you're right.

[DMT]

I think maybe they cover Peter Rowans version of the "the Cuckoo", but this is from Wiki-


"The Cuckoo" is a traditional English folk song. It has been covered by many musicians in several different styles. An early notable recorded version was performed by Appalachian folk musician Clarence Ashley with a unique banjo tuning.[1]

The title of the song has multiple variations, including The Coo-Coo, The Coo-Coo Bird, The Cuckoo Bird, and The Cuckoo Is A Pretty Bird.[2]

Lyrics usually include the line (or a slight variation):

The cuckoo is a pretty bird, she sings as she flies; she brings us glad tidings, and she tells us no lies.[2][3]

According to Thomas Goldsmith of The Raleigh News & Observer, "The Cuckoo" is reportedly descended from an old folk ballad; it's an interior monologue where the singer "relates his desires — to gamble, to win, to regain love's affection."[4]

[Scott]

I believe it is the traditional tune by way of Peter Rowan.

[Almando]

The medley includes Cuckoo's Nest > Leather Britches > Drowsy Maggie. Good old time fiddle tunes