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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1858









Released: 2001
Length: 4:47
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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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 (158)add comment
This violin reminds me on recent DDR Supergroup City's "Am Fenster", or "At the window".
Really great!
Posted 7 months ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 1 year ago by dischuckin    [ Reply ]
the haunted violin was a brilliant production decision. 
Posted 1 year ago by wonderunit    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 2 years ago by kenmo    [ Reply ]
I recognized immediately The BeGood Tanyas,  an RP find.  Thanks B & R!
Posted 2 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Heard them on CKUA.
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 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 
Posted 3 years ago by meanderer    [ Reply ]
Liking it a lot. Sultry, intimate and colourful amongst the lilt of chatm
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
Sorry, but Kristen Hersh owns this song.
 
Sorry, but the Pentangle version beats that.
Posted 3 years ago by kwacka    [ Reply ]
Hazy feeling to it...
Daydreamed there for a while
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 4 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Good song, awful fiddle.
Posted 4 years ago by LeonD    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 5 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 5 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
Play "Up Against The Wall" (same album) instead
Posted 5 years ago by JckTorance    [ Reply ]
WTF is this???
Posted 5 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
I truly appreciate the creative work by groups like this to keep alive our thinning heritage of traditional songs.    
Posted 5 years ago by ritajohnson    [ Reply ]


{#Crown}
Posted 6 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 6 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 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 
Posted 7 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 7 years ago by LuvWilloughby    [ Reply ]
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}
Posted 8 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
The music's OK, but the band's name is the real catch.  Would love to hear how it came about.
Posted 8 years ago by onenotedan    [ Reply ]
There's nothing like having a fiddle player with attitude!
Posted 8 years ago by Michael_Dean    [ Reply ]
so good you keep The Be Good Tanyas on the playlist, love 'em! <3
Posted 8 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Less fiddle. More cowbell.
Posted 8 years ago by parishphd    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 11 years ago by mediamarv    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 11 years ago by slackpacker    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 11 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
This cut adds little to the gazillion-strong canon of recordings of this old folk chestnut.  It just BEGS the question "Why?"  Way yawn.
Posted 12 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
Be Quiet, Tanyas!
Posted 12 years ago by QueenLucia    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 13 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
This is Cool
Also, one of my music friends played this band for me and it reminded me of those other girls I like.

Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
This is one of those weird songs where the whole is better than the sum of it's parts.
Posted 13 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 aquadonia wrote:
Blah.  {#Snooty}  Play the Kristin Hersh version instead, please.

 
I agree.

Posted 13 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
I love The Be Good Tanyas, and will never get tired of hearing them.

Posted 13 years ago by ninamo    [ Reply ]
this bites. meh.
Posted 14 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
such a let down after that fun Phish song.
Posted 14 years ago by rosedraws    [ Reply ]
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

Posted 14 years ago by unclelonghair    [ Reply ]
No apologies, I like it{#Roflol}
Posted 14 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]

{#Dancingbanana}

Posted 14 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
This sucks. URGH!! {#Sick}
Posted 14 years ago by whiskey    [ Reply ]
Blah.  {#Snooty}  Play the Kristin Hersh version instead, please.

Posted 14 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
she sounds like she's on the run or something.
aweful ;-(
Posted 15 years ago by bobcat1963    [ Reply ]
 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!)
Posted 15 years ago by fimo    [ Reply ]
They have class..I like the violin - reminds me of Warren Ellis from The Proposition (Nick Cave) :-)
Posted 15 years ago by kriskerehona    [ Reply ]
I'm somehow stuck between hating and liking this.
Posted 15 years ago by derekd    [ Reply ]
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.

Posted 15 years ago by cayenne    [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
 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>.
Posted 15 years ago by greyfin10    [ Reply ]
Turning off RP now....{#Puke} after that last banjo how down song, you torture me all the more with these catter wallers!
Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Love this band.  Their record Chinatown is outstanding.  Hope to hear more on RP soon.
Posted 16 years ago by ROSSinDETROIT    [ Reply ]
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!

 


Posted 16 years ago by BettyB    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by rvontha    [ Reply ]
I prefer Hem's version
Posted 16 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
Great blending of the vocals with the music, especially the strings. A mosaic.
Posted 16 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Gee...is EVERY instrument on this track out of tune? Sharp, flat...all over!
Posted 16 years ago by Ntropy    [ Reply ]
These birds are Coo Coo
Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
I find it to be quite enjoyable.
Posted 16 years ago by honeygirl    [ Reply ]
Not a fan of this band, sounds forced.
Posted 16 years ago by manchester1    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by healyf52    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 16 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 16 years ago by gekkosan    [ Reply ]
The moon on the cover is illuminated from the right but the train from the left. What's up with that?
Posted 16 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
The Gurus Blue Horse
Posted 16 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote: Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin? lattalo wrote:
Your comment!
Posted 16 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin?
Your comment!
Posted 17 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
A really cool cover of a classic song.
Posted 17 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
Here comes the coo coo bird on the blue horse on it's once a month tour de force!
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by eskles    [ Reply ]
Absolutely the best version of this song I've heard.
Posted 17 years ago by karen    [ Reply ]
peyotecoyote wrote:
OO, love that violin and these voices oh, an' the bass an' the drums an' the guitar
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
miahfost wrote:
Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin?
The voice - by far.
Posted 17 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Mari wrote:
Posted 17 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 17 years ago by cupajoe    [ Reply ]
dundidit wrote:
Sounds like honey.
Ah, the birds and the bees! Coo Coo Goo Goo! Oh, don't forget the blue horse?
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
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)
Posted 17 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
Sounds like honey.
Posted 17 years ago by dundidit    [ Reply ]
Mari wrote:
Posted 17 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
ZOW - loving this!
Posted 17 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
Which is more irritating; the voice or the violin?
Posted 17 years ago by miahfost    [ Reply ]
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"
Posted 17 years ago by DoofusGeezer    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
I have kind of started to like their voices, so I will start with a 7 now. I guess whose "fault" it may be?
Posted 18 years ago by Kerly    [ Reply ]
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!!!
Posted 18 years ago by Walrus_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
i always thought this was pj harvey.
Posted 18 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
Love the sound, especially the violin! If you like spacey violin in your songs, check out Treehouse: www.myspace.com/treehouseonline
Posted 18 years ago by Cellocaster_Paul    [ Reply ]
Gnarls Barkley, Greg Brown and the Tanyas in the same set? Bill, when did you raid my CD collection?!
Posted 18 years ago by catrip    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by Zweiblumen    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 18 years ago by Painted_Turtle    [ Reply ]
Love the BGTs....wish RP would play The Littlest Birds or Lake of Ponchatrain from the same album.
Posted 18 years ago by elvenwise    [ Reply ]
Odyzzeuz wrote:
The BGT's do an amazing job on these traditional folk tunes; a well produced album and a cool sound.
I concure..........
Posted 18 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
The BGT's do an amazing job on these traditional folk tunes; a well produced album and a cool sound.
Posted 18 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
... .........
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
Lovely ladies.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
If you're going to play this why not play a little Alison Krauss like 'Lucky One' or something?
Posted 18 years ago by RockinBlueVoodoo    [ Reply ]
I'm diggin' it.
Posted 18 years ago by cesare    [ Reply ]
I like the song... I am enjoying listening to it.
Posted 18 years ago by honeygirl    [ Reply ]
Tritter wrote:
TOTALLY---Love Hem's version...
Yep, much better.
Posted 18 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
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!!
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
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!!
Posted 18 years ago by byrd    [ Reply ]
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".
Posted 19 years ago by Govi    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 19 years ago by Mike_P    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 19 years ago by Four-Five    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 19 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
Such noisy in-breaths.
Posted 19 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Luthien wrote:
As do I.
TOTALLY---Love Hem's version...
Posted 19 years ago by Tritter    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Lazy8    [ Reply ]
rah wrote:
i'd rather hear HEM's version.
As do I.
Posted 19 years ago by Luthien    [ Reply ]
Too Coo Coo for me
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
Blue Grassity is not required .... Check out the Tarbox Ramblers' version of this song. It rocks, albeit slowly.
Posted 20 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
I prefer the Riley Baugus version on the Cold Mountain soundtrack, this one just doesn't have the BlueGrassity necessary for this song...
Posted 20 years ago by Vandy005    [ Reply ]
rah wrote:
i'd rather hear HEM's version.
This version is certainly interesting, but I prefer HEM's too.
Posted 20 years ago by Hob    [ Reply ]
Creepily haunting...perfect!
Posted 20 years ago by Joyfulchristine    [ Reply ]
Spooky vocal harmonies.
Posted 20 years ago by MrBoyo    [ Reply ]
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!!!
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]