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Song

Written by
Publication date
1847
Language
English
Comments
[Roud 413; G/D 6:1157; Henry H479; Ballad Index R049; VWML HAM/3/18/15, RoudFS/S141818; Bodleian Roud 413; Wiltshire 95, 764; trad.]. First published in the 1847 edition of "Popular Rhymes of Scotland", edited by Robert Chambers. Roud 413 in the Roud Folk Music Index. Also known as "Coo Coo", "A-Walking and A-Talking", "Pretty Girl Is Like a Little Bird", "I'm Sad and I'm Lonesome".
As with all traditionals, both melody and lyrics may vary a lot. At the core, the song tells us the cuckoo is "a fine (or pretty) bird" and that it not hollers/sings untill the Spring or "the fourth day of July". In general, most versions named 'Coo Coo' follow the Ashley variant, a jumble of unrelated verses, while the 'Cuckoo' versions are more coherent.
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