October 2. Story of the Day: The Bird Song.

This song comes from Nursery Songs from the Appalachian Mountains by Cecil J. Sharp, with illustrations by Esther B. Mackinnon.

This is Roud 747.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE BIRD SONG

Hi! says the blackbird, sitting on a chair,

Once I courted a lady fair;

She proved fickle and turned her back,

And ever since then I'm dressed in black.

Hi! says the blue jay as she flew,

If I was a young man I'd have two;

If one proved fickle and chanced for to go,

I'd have a new string to my bow.

Hi! says the little leather winged bat,

I will tell you the reason that

The reason that I fly in the night

Is because I lost my heart's delight.

Hi! says the little mourning dove,

I'll tell you how to gain her love;

Court her night and court her day,

Never give her time to say “O mny.”

Hi! said the woodpecker sitting on a fence,

Once I courted a handsome wench;

She proved fickle and from me fled,

And ever since then my head's been red.

Hi! says the owl with my eyes so big,

If I had a hen I’d feed like a pig;

But here I sit on a frozen stake,

Which causes my poor heart to ache.

Hi! says the swallow, sitting in a barn,

Courting, I think, is no harm.

I pick my wings and sit up straight

And hope every young man will choose him a mate.

Hi! says the hawk unto the crow,

If you ain't black then I don't know.

Ever since old Adam was born,

You've been accused of stealing corn.

Hi! says the crow unto the hawk,

I understand your great big talk;

You'd like to pounce and catch a hen,

But I hope the farmer will shoot you then.

Hi! says the robin, with a little squirm,

I wish I had a great, big worm;

I would fly away into my nest;

I have a wife I think is the best.