Song for a Smallish Colorful Bird

[OdilonGreen]

EDIT: Based on the (very fair) comments so far (as of 5/12, the day after I originally posted this song), I'm in the process of remixing from the ground up. I'd never tell someone not to listen to one of my songs, but... you may want to wait until the revised version is up, probably in a day or two.

This is a completely true story. A bird that appeared to be on the verge of death appeared on my deck on Friday evening. While not a common occurrence, it has happened a handful of times over the 20 or so years that I've been in my current house, and the usual result is that when the bird finally expires, I have to take a shovel and unceremoniously fling it into the woods.

This time, though, the bird was gone the next morning.

Did it recover? Did a scavenger get it? Who knows, but that lingering question was the inspiration for this song.

This was originally a completely light and comic piece, but grew organically into something a bit more philosophical as I worked on it, perhaps stemming from my ongoing accumulation of personal infirmities as I grow ever older, and my resultant reflections on mortality.

As a result, although there are some parts that I very much like, especially musically and melodically, this song is a bit of a Frankenstein assemblage, with more snide and more thoughtful sentiments co-existing a bit uncomfortably. Oh well.

The main instrument is my newly re-set-up baritone ukulele, which I'm happy to say is playing much better now.

VERSES 1 & 2

I found you on the deck last night
A flicker left, a faint, small light
A shiver ran along your wing
Clutching so hard to life's thin string

I watched you while the dark did grow
And left you 'neath the moon's cold glow
I thought, tomorrow, I'll lay you down,
If morning comes and you're still around

PRE-CHORUS

But when the sun rose up to see
You'd slipped away, a mystery
No trace, no feather, no goodbye
Just empty deck and open sky

CHORUS

Did you rise up, chase death away
And live to fly another day
Or did a bobcat come on by
For a midnight snack beneath uncaring sky
Oh little bird, you're a riddle to me
Are you out there now, or just a carcass to eat

VERSE 3

I searched the yard, under the deck
But could not find a single speck
To show that once you had been here
Every trace has disappeared

PRE-CHORUS

Because when the sun rose up to see
You'd slipped away, a mystery
No trace, no feather, no goodbye
Just empty deck and open sky

CHORUS

Did you rise up, chase death away
And live to fly another day
Or did a bobcat come on by
For a midnight snack beneath uncaring sky
Oh little bird, you're a riddle to me
Are you out there now, or just a carcass to eat

BRIDGE

Not every end will leave a sign
No echo, mark, or clear design
Some vanish like a whispered thought
Here for a moment, and then... they're not.

CHORUS

Did you rise up, chase death away
And live to fly another day
Or did a bobcat come on by
For a midnight snack beneath uncaring sky
I don't know his fate, but this much is true
I'll remember the bird that I barely knew

[StephenM]

maybe a touch humorous but also shows that you do in fact care and I like that.
I am no big "animal lover".... I enjoy nature in all it's character and glory.
I watch here in the wild as some animals become food to others.. and i enjoy watching the whole thing
and true that one day i will be gone and I would rather someone throw me into the woods than to burn me in a fire... i like the old ways... just dig a hole and maybe a pine box and cover it in a good amount of dirt... but nobody makes money off that.. and I suppose in modern society we can't have bodies decaying everywhere...
oh I am rambling.. sorry.

the music goes in a number of directions starting with a simple strum and drum... then it goes into horns etc... really nice... and kind of reminds of another SC type of arrangement.
I like the lyrics... I think it is ambitious..

[Ted]

This song deals with the truth that we rarely get perfect endings or neat explanations – and too many songs, films, stories offer them.

To be honest: This song deserves a better mix – and a bass part. The drums are trying to provide some dynamics, but are getting no support from the other tracks. Bass might be the missing ingredient. The other ingredients are great (cello, trumpet, guitar, vocals, the background vocals that come in during the last quarter of the song) but could be produced differently – levels, panning. A more sophisticated producer would have other ideas, but those are mine.

[Farrell Jackson]

I agree with what Steve and Ted said....they've covered my similar thoughts well. You certainly have you own style which is a compliment. With all the saturation of music these days it's hard to have a style that's different but after listening to several of your songs you are in a space of your own with your words, vocals and music. I like that and this song!

[Ray Brookes]

As others have remarked Mr.Green your music is interesting and quirky and this particular track is another example of your quasi comedic writing. I do like how you treat your songs and you have established your own style which is rare these days. I do agree with Ted that perhaps a more detailed production might make a song like this a bit more palatable musically. All subjective of course.