Little Yellow Bird

AKAGoodbye Little Yellow Bird
First Published1903

Writer/composerCW Murphy and William HargreavesRoudRN29710

Music Hall PerformersFlo de Vere, Minnie Jeffs, Ellaline Terriss
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Bentall, Brenda ; England ; 1970
The snow was very plentiful and clouds were very few
When a weather-beaten sparrow through a mansion window flew
Her eye fell on a golden cage a sweet love song she heard
Sung by a pet canary there, a handsome yellow bird
He said to her, "Miss Sparrow I've been struck by Cupid's arrow
Would you share my cage with me?" She looked up at his castle
With its ribbon and its tassel and in plaintive tones said she:

Good-byе, little yellow bird
I'd rather bravе the cold
On a leafless tree,
Than a prisoner be
In a cage of gold.


The spoiled and petted yellow bird could scarce believe it true
That a common sparrow should refuse a bird with blood so blue
He told her the advantages of riches and of gold
She answered that her liberties,for gold could not be sold
She said "I must be going," but he cried "No, no, its snowing
And the wintry winds do blow, stay with me, my little dearie
For without you 'twould be dreary." But she only sighed "Ah, no."

Another early 20th century song collected from the singing of Brenda Bentall by Roy Palmer in 1970.

The song was written by CW Murphy and William Hargreaves, and it originally featured in the repertoire of several revue and variety performers, including Ellaline Terriss

The song was revived in the 1945 American film, A picture of Dorian Gray – sung by Angela Lansbury, playing a “tavern singer”:

Sources:

  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics: transcribed from recording
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