Clarence Ashley - "Cuckoo Bird"

[@earlq6317]

Clarence Tom Ashley was my great uncle. Got to meet him in early 60s when I was early teenager. He sang Pretty Polly for us. He was living in Saltville , Va. at the time.

[@cooasp12]

He is an outstanding singer. How blessed you should feel to have such a legend apart of your bloodline.

[@mikegager]

my dads family is from saltville. small world

[@jayred8636]

Small world.when your.gene.pools puddle deep eh Boyz!! Heehaaaw!!!

[@AbandonedNorthJersey]

I heard he resided in western N Caroliner with banjer in hand .

[@stephengoff8700]

Great to hear that Earl! Do you have an idea of from where in (presumably) the British Isles the Ashley family came to America.

[@malaquiasalfaro81]

The meeting of eerie sounding English folk ballads and pitiful work songs and field hollers from slaves is unmatched.

[@ΘοδωρηςΚογγας-τ8ω]

when someone says hey you americans dont have a culture you only have kardasians play that song at your phone and smash it to his head love you south from Greece

[@Sabbatius527]

Well, when a Greek guy says so, then its quite a compliment! Για χαρἀ!

[@richardbahner9435]

Thank you! It's so nice to hear something good said about America nowadays!

[@justahumanbeing.709]

this music originates from England, Scotland ,Ireland and wales people took it with them when they moved to settle in America. Blues r n'b and jazz are original American types of music.

[@Townes.VanZandt]

@@justahumanbeing.709 actually the origins of banjo comes from Africa (strings with a drum pot) and then to America via Joel Sweeney (1800s creating the modern 5 string, as heard hear) and headed to Ireland and Scotland from there. But thanks anyway

[@justahumanbeing.709]

@@Townes.VanZandt very interesting, but I wasn't talking about the banjo coming from u.k. and Ireland, I was talking about folk music.

[@WillFielder78]

i'm sitting outside on my front porch at almost 12 midnight and playing this song loud on my surround sound while the massive cold front thunderstorm is approaching. it's going great with the storm. :)

[@Saiyan_Goku]

TheIlluminisFactor11 how'd that go

[@ChasingDestinyBand]

TheIlluminisFactor11 be more of a man if you actually played it

[@hannah-ty9hz]

The fucking life my friend 😀

[@goldcoastlady5377]

Perfect!

[@Vedouci.kolotoce]

​@hannah-ty9hz what do you mean

[@thamirlyousif]

love the music..simple and pure and good

[@1Roamingwolf]

I am norwegian and we have also a rich folk tradition, but this is something else, i so wish i could visit someday and experience your culture and traditions also the beautiful nature and scenery! God bless america!

[@tehsnipatres208]

Lawless brought me to this wonderful tune. & am I glad that it did!

[@christopherrowley7506]

Gonna build me a log cabin on a mountain so high So I can see Willie as he goes passing by Oh the Cuckoo she's a pretty bird, she wobbles as she flies She never says cuckoo til the fourth day of July I've played cards in England I've played cards in Spain I'll bet you ten dollars I'll beat you next game Jack o' Diamonds Jack o' Diamonds I've known you from old You've robbed my poor pockets of my silver and my gold My horses ain't hungry they won't eat your hay I'll ride on a little further, I'll feed them on my way

[@PHILDEVOID]

I discovered this song because I’m a fan of a current folksinger. I liked it so much I had to discover its roots, thanks for this video. It’s fantastic.

[@davidmcdonald1600]

Tom (Clarence) Ashley played with The Carolina Tar Heels back in the 1920's. My friend recorded an interview at his house back in the 1960's. I hadn't heard this version before. Really nice. Thanks for posting.

[@tuathaigh-aa]

I am Irish and normally play trad stuff but people really like to dance to the appalachian stuff too, so I'm learning that too! I can play this guitar :) I will post soon.

[@Knyfefyte]

Never doubt a man’s will nor his pride. That is how empires fall.

[@matthewfox3163]

Best version of this song ever!

[@TSOL2023]

"The Cuckoo" (Roud 413) 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] The song is featured in the E.L. Doctorow book The March. A soldier suffering from a metal spike stuck in his head sings verses from the song. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo_(song)

[@samuelleake9213]

townes van zandts has to be the best version

[@railfanatic1416]

Jeffrey Wendt my chorus sang a SATB (Suprano, alto, tenor, base) variation of the song with the starting lyrics "oh the cuckoo, she's a pretty bird. She warbler as she flies, and she never says a cuckoo till the fourth day of July."

[@Saiyan_Goku]

Nice

[@twilightzone2795]

@@samuelleake9213 Rory Gallaghers

[@marioglabrius1660]

this is played on the barn dance scene clip in the movie, Lawless, and flat foot dancing

[@dstobinski27]

I first heard this done by the Holy Modal Rounders. So glad to hear the original.

[@lu.c.clarke5411]

Wonderful!

[@Tiptoes7]

Big Brother and the Holding Company used this melody for a song called "Oh Sweet Mary."

[@fed1up]

Yess

[@MrMusicguyma]

Nice backup by Doc Watson.

[@Bubba-1962]

That's awesome didn't know that

[@randysquires8362]

Plucked me a chicken, then tossed the feathers... but l saved his beak. Washed its body, in ol skunk creek water... in a bucket that had a leak. Time l got back up to my cabin, that ol bucket had run plumb dry... aint got no broth to cook that chicken... made my poor ol pappy cry. Used that beak that l had saved, to write the U.S. president. Told him all about my 'hard luck' charlie, made damn sure, he knew what l meant. He wrote me back a few months later, took most a year to find my home. He sent a man to take our picture. A suit & tie & a yellow comb. Gussied up for that there picture, stood right up straight & tall... didnt know that lonesome picture would soon be on the wall. J. Edger Hoover, he thought most highly, of his own self, word gets around... and my picture, it got famous, in every post office in the town. It got famous, release the hounds...

[@AbandonedNorthJersey]

Thats pure appalchian

[@JohnyG29]

From an English folk song.

[@meredithwilliams4671]

@@JohnyG29 Nobody sings these songs in England anymore so by God, they're ours now. ;)

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@meredithwilliams4671 Yes, they do.

[@MB7world]

@prplhze Kath! You know a bluegrass bar? Go there! Dem's good folks.

[@Fnidner]

this is so great! when is this?

[@charlesroberts3650]

The same swagger as any of the great rock bands, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, etc. By the way "Willy", I understand, is slang for Sheriff.

[@Engel-Heilig]

awesome

[@melcooper2470]

and who was this "Willie" that he could see pass by?

[@martind9831]

+Melora Cooper Some sing "Nellie", many trad songs don't fret about gender.

[@jeffwilliams196]

That line turns up in many English folk songs. It is almost a thousand years old. Sometimes the singer "climbs a tower" or "builds a scaffold" to see Willie ride by. "Willie" is William the Conquerer.

[@kaiczarthompson2248]

You guys are making up extra... Willie is a "Lawman" or "Man of the Law"

[@melcooper2470]

Kai'czar Thompson that makes so much sense thanks

[@kenny6920]

@@kaiczarthompson2248 was looking for this correct answer. It's some moonshiner speak.

[@charlesroberts3650]

This song and the singer's got SWAGGER, as much as any "Rock Star".

[@stevebardill5784]

I love this song love this band. Makes me want to break out my geitar

[@prplhze]

Sounds like Sunday evening at a bar we frequent. We don't go there on Sundays.

[@ThePedroSanchez1]

Lawless :D

[@justinderosier9421]

Dig it.

[@AntonyMoggridgeshonkyguitars]

Intense!

[@gilthethrill9179]

Jerry Garcia led me here.....

[@simonedavis2398]

Thanks to John Fahey i came here

[@michaelgowen6815]

Me too

[@vinzelrato]

very apropriate song for "Child of God" Cormac McCarthy book !

[@davidmcdonald1600]

See my youtube video Joe Bussard playing the original Columbia recording of "Little Sadie" The sound quality is excellent !

[@nathannisley3718]

Is there any place that the interview can be listened to?

[@Vib.H]

Was pollya a parrot ? ( Ara ?)

[@AidanHegarty97]

does anybody know who is playing guitar on this?

[@moonshiner3400]

Doc Watson

[@robertevans6596]

Rory Gallagher also does a brilliant version 😊

[@MB7world]

I agree!

[@Sxx04]

Lawles

[@calcairecamhi]

Really like Steve Waring's version from the late 60's

[@MB7world]

@WillFielder78 Most picturesque comment ever! 8 D

[@furtif000]

African influence / origins appear clear on this pre-bluegrass song.

[@pennyb22]

It's an English folk song and it's hundreds of years old, it has zero African influence. The only African influence is with the banjo

[@CraigFCB]

LAWLESS!

[@thamirlyousif]

and that is of great America...MAGA

[@charlesroberts3650]

This song and the singer's got SWAGGER, as much as any "Rock Star".

[@Aaam1rK]

LAWLESS!