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The Be Good Tanyas — The Coo Coo Bird
Album: Blue Horse
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1708









Released: 2001
Length: 4:46
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Oh the cuckoo she's a pretty bird
She warbles as she flies
She never hollers coo coo till the fourth day
Of July

Gonna build me log cabin
On a mountain so high
So I can see Willie as he goes on by

Well I've played cards in Texas
And I've played cards in Maine
Oh I'll bet you five dollars I'll beat you
Next game

Jack of Diamonds Jack of Diamonds
Oh I know you of old
You robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey
Oh I know you of old
You robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold

Sometimes I feel much younger
Sometimes I feel so old
Sometimes the warm sun shines sometimes it's
Dreadful cold

Oh the cuckoo she's a pretty bird
How I wish she was mine
She never drinks water she only drinks wine

Oh the cuckoo she's a pretty bird
She warbles as she flies
She never hollers coo coo till the fourth day
Of July
Comments (157)add comment
 Michael_Dean wrote:

There's nothing like having a fiddle player with attitude!



is that what's going on.? i kept stopping the music to see if there was a violin being played somewhere else.
the haunted violin was a brilliant production decision. 
I had the pleasure of seeing them at an outdoor venue on a beautiful summer's day here in Vancouver (their hometown). They put on a great performance that day. Shortly after, I obtained their CD and promptly uploaded a few tunes to RP.
I recognized immediately The BeGood Tanyas,  an RP find.  Thanks B & R!
Heard them on CKUA.
 Shimmer wrote:

Sorry, but Kristen Hersh owns this song.




From what I've heard on RP, I reckon The BGTs would be allowed to borrow it once in a while...
This is the only version I know but I'm gonna check out the OP's suggestion 
Liking it a lot. Sultry, intimate and colourful amongst the lilt of chatm
 Shimmer wrote:
Sorry, but Kristen Hersh owns this song.
 
Sorry, but the Pentangle version beats that.
Hazy feeling to it...
Daydreamed there for a while
 Proclivities wrote:


The train is lit by artificial light from a nearby town.  They usually turn off most of their lights that late at night, but that evening a noisy coo coo bird was keeping all the residents awake and they turned on all the lights to try to find it and tell him to stop making so much racket.
 
Thank you. 
Good song, awful fiddle.
 Carl wrote:
The moon on the cover is illuminated from the right but the train from the left. What's up with that?
 

The train is lit by artificial light from a nearby town.  They usually turn off most of their lights that late at night, but that evening a noisy coo coo bird was keeping all the residents awake and they turned on all the lights to try to find it and tell him to stop making so much racket.
 Skydog wrote:

 LuvWilloughby wrote:

Perhaps the name was derived from  not so good Tanya Harding.

maybe just something they heard Glen Campbell said 
 
From a song by a fellow artist about not doing what folks want you to, but they should try selling the Tanya Harding story.
Play "Up Against The Wall" (same album) instead
WTF is this???
I truly appreciate the creative work by groups like this to keep alive our thinning heritage of traditional songs.    


{#Crown}
 fredriley wrote:
I do like the seemingly 'off' harmony between the singer's voices. It really catches the ear, as does the tremble in their voices. The Tanyas are usually being good in my book. 8 from the smitten Nottingham jury {#Hearteyes}

 
Frazey Ford's vibrato is still hard at work, with some success as a solo act, not sure about the others.
 onenotedan wrote:
The music's OK, but the band's name is the real catch.  Would love to hear how it came about.

 
 LuvWilloughby wrote:

Perhaps the name was derived from  not so good Tanya Harding.

maybe just something they heard Glen Campbell said 
 onenotedan wrote:
The music's OK, but the band's name is the real catch.  Would love to hear how it came about.

 
Perhaps the name was derived from  not so good Tanya Harding.
I do like the seemingly 'off' harmony between the singer's voices. It really catches the ear, as does the tremble in their voices. The Tanyas are usually being good in my book. 8 from the smitten Nottingham jury {#Hearteyes}
The music's OK, but the band's name is the real catch.  Would love to hear how it came about.
There's nothing like having a fiddle player with attitude!
so good you keep The Be Good Tanyas on the playlist, love 'em! <3
Less fiddle. More cowbell.
I have a version of this by the Everly Brothers, done in the late 60s or early 70s (when I was a dj at KCSM-FM) which I like almost as well as this version. But why do they wait til July to feed the poor bird?
I love this old tune, and this rendition is pretty interesting.  If you want to hear another completely different take on it, check out Nikki Talley's recent live version of it...

https://soundcloud.com/nikki_talley/01-cuckoo
I love this song, never heard this incarnation though, will have to give it a listen sometimes. I like Dylan and Hersch's version as well as the old school original versions too judging from the comments though this one does not do the song justice. Someday I may hear it I reckon.
This cut adds little to the gazillion-strong canon of recordings of this old folk chestnut.  It just BEGS the question "Why?"  Way yawn.
Be Quiet, Tanyas!
 TerryS wrote:
This is one of those weird songs where the whole is better than the sum of it's parts.
 
Good comment - still, somebody's in some serious pain here.

This is Cool
Also, one of my music friends played this band for me and it reminded me of those other girls I like.

This is one of those weird songs where the whole is better than the sum of it's parts.
 aquadonia wrote:
Blah.  {#Snooty}  Play the Kristin Hersh version instead, please.

 
I agree.

I love The Be Good Tanyas, and will never get tired of hearing them.

this bites. meh.
such a let down after that fun Phish song.
Having heard a few bad covers of this song, this one is nowhere near the worst, and is an interesting interpretation...

Some nice background on this historical song:

https://theanthologyofamericanfolkmusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/coo-coo-bird-clarence-ashley.html

No apologies, I like it{#Roflol}

{#Dancingbanana}

This sucks. URGH!! {#Sick}
Blah.  {#Snooty}  Play the Kristin Hersh version instead, please.

she sounds like she's on the run or something.
aweful ;-(
 cayenne wrote:
Somebody else made the comment once that the lead singer of the Tanyas sings like she's sitting on a washing machine, and I agree, but I like it.

 
...part of the addictive nature of RP is reading comments like this once in a while {#Clap}
(and i also agree, and also like it!)
They have class..I like the violin - reminds me of Warren Ellis from The Proposition (Nick Cave) :-)
I'm somehow stuck between hating and liking this.
Somebody else made the comment once that the lead singer of the Tanyas sings like she's sitting on a washing machine, and I agree, but I like it.


 Shesdifferent wrote:
Turning off RP now....{#Puke} after that last banjo how down song, you torture me all the more with these catter wallers!
 

Put a vomitsmiley in a message and you make me want to argue with you.  Hmm...  I can't really make claims about how wonderful the song is, so I'm reduced to correcting your spelling.  As a denizen of the south, its "caterwaul" and "hoe-down". 

So there <sniff>.
Turning off RP now....{#Puke} after that last banjo how down song, you torture me all the more with these catter wallers!
Love this band.  Their record Chinatown is outstanding.  Hope to hear more on RP soon.
That's part of TBGT's style. It's not that they're out of tune; it's just a relaxed, "nonperfect" vibe.

 Ntropy wrote:
Gee...is EVERY instrument on this track out of tune? Sharp, flat...all over!

 


bindi wrote:
I prefer Hem's version
I have not heard Hem's version. The Tarbox Ramblers arrange it differently, but I like it as well. I really dig the Tanyas' version of this. This is what made me by the CD.
I prefer Hem's version
Great blending of the vocals with the music, especially the strings. A mosaic.
Gee...is EVERY instrument on this track out of tune? Sharp, flat...all over!
These birds are Coo Coo
I find it to be quite enjoyable.
Not a fan of this band, sounds forced.
Carl wrote:
The moon on the cover is illuminated from the right but the train from the left. What's up with that?
The light illuminating the train is from an old pickup truck approaching the crossing.
Carl wrote:
The moon on the cover is illuminated from the right but the train from the left. What's up with that?
Probably because the light source is not the same...
Carl wrote:
The moon on the cover is illuminated from the right but the train from the left. What's up with that?
Isn't that called something like "artistic license" or some such? I expect you're unhappy about the odd sense of proportion that some artists such as Picasso or Dali apply to their paintings, as well...
The moon on the cover is illuminated from the right but the train from the left. What's up with that?
The Gurus Blue Horse
miahfost wrote: Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin? lattalo wrote:
Your comment!
miahfost wrote:
Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin?
Your comment!
A really cool cover of a classic song.
karen wrote:
Absolutely the best version of this song I've heard.
I couldn't agree more, I had to buy this after hearing this song.
Here comes the coo coo bird on the blue horse on it's once a month tour de force!
Hannio wrote:
The voice - by far.
I don't know - I was all ready to give this my first rating over 2 for a BGT song, then heard the violins and it immediately became another 1 vote.
Absolutely the best version of this song I've heard.
peyotecoyote wrote:
OO, love that violin and these voices oh, an' the bass an' the drums an' the guitar
miahfost wrote:
Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin?
The voice - by far.
Mari wrote:
I really like The Be Good Tanyas. However, I really dislike the violin in this song. It seems so discordant to me that I can't listen to this song!
dundidit wrote:
Sounds like honey.
Ah, the birds and the bees! Coo Coo Goo Goo! Oh, don't forget the blue horse?
DoofusGeezer wrote:
Zweiblumen wrote:
I'm sure pg would have something witty to say, but I don't. One too many e's in that spelling of concur. I believe that literally translated the word "concure" means "we all get better together"
from dictionary.com: con·cur –verb (used without object), -curred, -cur·ring. 1. to accord in opinion; agree: Do you concur with his statement? 2. to cooperate; work together; combine; be associated: Members of both parties concurred. 3. to coincide; occur at the same time: His graduation concurred with his birthday. 4. Obsolete. to run or come together; converge. Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < L concurrere to run together, meet, be in agreement, equiv. to con- con- + currere to run; cf. concourse, current> coo coo bird: (click here)
Sounds like honey.
Mari wrote:
ZOW - loving this!
Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin?
Zweiblumen wrote:
I'm sure pg would have something witty to say, but I don't. One too many e's in that spelling of concur. I believe that literally translated the word "concure" means "we all get better together"
Kerly wrote:
I have kind of started to like their voices, so I will start with a 7 now. I guess whose "fault" it may be?
I give in, whose? the Coo Coo bird?
I have kind of started to like their voices, so I will start with a 7 now. I guess whose "fault" it may be?
Cellocaster_Paul wrote:
Love the sound, especially the violin! If you like spacey violin in your songs, check out Treehouse: www.myspace.com/treehouseonline
Harmonies are nice, but hate the violin! Like fingernails on a chalkboard!!!
i always thought this was pj harvey.
Love the sound, especially the violin! If you like spacey violin in your songs, check out Treehouse: www.myspace.com/treehouseonline
Gnarls Barkley, Greg Brown and the Tanyas in the same set? Bill, when did you raid my CD collection?!
cutterjudd wrote:
I concure..........
I'm sure pg would have something witty to say, but I don't. One too many e's in that spelling of concur.
I love this old time fiddle tune, although I always want to sing the words to the Jack O Diamonds along too it. Listening to the Coo Coo Birds words & liking it. Nice presentation
Love the BGTs....wish RP would play The Littlest Birds or Lake of Ponchatrain from the same album.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
The BGT's do an amazing job on these traditional folk tunes; a well produced album and a cool sound.
I concure..........
The BGT's do an amazing job on these traditional folk tunes; a well produced album and a cool sound.
... .........
Lovely ladies.
If you're going to play this why not play a little Alison Krauss like 'Lucky One' or something?
I'm diggin' it.
I like the song... I am enjoying listening to it.
Tritter wrote:
TOTALLY---Love Hem's version...
Yep, much better.
I first heard this as a folk song about 950 years ago or so. Then it was called the Raven. Same lyrics, except for Raven instead of Coo coo (? Cuckoo ?) Then, it got boring cos all the folksey club singers had it in their repertoirs. But this version is just plain awful!!
rah wrote:
i'd rather hear HEM's version.
I like the Be Good Tanyas, and I like their version of this song, but I definitely agree with this comment. HEM's version of this song is excellant!!
The singing is so intimate and present, the voices in breathy harmony. Best I've heard since Tom Rush's version, which he called "Jack of Diamonds".
i'd love to hear some Rory Gallagher here. the Taj Mahal version of this song (The Cuckoo) is very good. I had that on vinyl in (gulp) 1972 or so. Album = The Natch'l Blues. sigh Antigone wrote:
Anyone else heard the Rory Gallagher version of this song? Let's lobby for Rory on RP!
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
one of my favorite new folk bands. the Blue Horse CD is a fantastic work that was all recorded in a barn...yep a barn. the originals are beautifully composed and the harmonies are incredible! the littlest birds is a great tune! hint, hint.
I agree!
Lazy8 wrote:
I like this song. I like this band. But this band's version of this song is way too overwrought and stilted--they can do a lot better than this.
"...overwrought and stilted...". Oh, that's just perfect. Not to mention the whiny violins filtered to the point that they can shatter your skull. Other than that, it's great!
Such noisy in-breaths.
Luthien wrote:
As do I.
TOTALLY---Love Hem's version...
I like this song. I like this band. But this band's version of this song is way too overwrought and stilted--they can do a lot better than this.
rah wrote:
i'd rather hear HEM's version.
As do I.
Too Coo Coo for me
Blue Grassity is not required .... Check out the Tarbox Ramblers' version of this song. It rocks, albeit slowly.
I prefer the Riley Baugus version on the Cold Mountain soundtrack, this one just doesn't have the BlueGrassity necessary for this song...
rah wrote:
i'd rather hear HEM's version.
This version is certainly interesting, but I prefer HEM's too.
Creepily haunting...perfect!
Spooky vocal harmonies.
Antigone wrote:
Anyone else heard the Rory Gallagher version of this song? Let's lobby for Rory on RP!
No, but I heard Liam Gallagher kicked Rory's ass!! BLOODY WANKER!!!
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
one of my favorite new folk bands. the Blue Horse CD is a fantastic work that was all recorded in a barn...yep a barn. the originals are beautifully composed and the harmonies are incredible! the littlest birds is a great tune! hint, hint.
Littlest Birds should be on the playlist.
Heh. The echo violin going on in the background reminds me of the background music from the computer game Diablo. :)