Poverty drove the Dickens to move to the Baltimore, Maryland area when Dickins was nineteen. There she met Mike Seeger, younger brother of Pete Seeger and founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers and became active in the Baltimore-Washington area bluegrass and folk music scene during the 1960s. During this time she also established a collaborative relationship with Mike Seeger's wife, Alice Gerrard, and as "Hazel & Alice" recorded two albums for the Folkways label: "Who's That Knocking (And Other Bluegrass Country Music) (1965)" and "Won't You Come & Sing for Me (1973)". In this regard, Dickens and Gerrard were bluegrass bandleaders at a time when the vast majority of bluegrass bands were led by men.
Dickens appeared in the documentary Harlan County, USA and also contributed four songs to the soundtrack of the same film. She has also appeared in the film Matewan.
Dickins continues to record and perform all of her life. Her voice is among the most powerful and moving of all bluegrass singers, male or female.
Hazel Dickens died April 22, 2011 at the Washington Home hospice in the District. She was 75 and had complications from pneumonia. Bless you old girl.
Pretty Bird
Hazel Dickens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fly Fly away
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I see in your eyes a promise
Your own tender love you bring
But fly away little pretty bird
Loves own tender flame warms this meeting
And loves tender song should sing
But fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I cannot make you no promise
For love is such a daily good thing
Fly away little pretty bird
For he'd only clip your wings
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'd always stay
Fly far beyond the dark mountain
To where you'll be free ever more
Fly away little pretty bird
Where the cold winter winds don't blow
Hazel Dickens's song "Pretty Bird" reflects the mixed emotions of the singer towards a pretty bird. The singer observes the beauty of the bird and recognizes the potential for love and tenderness that it holds. However, there is a sense of caution in the lyrics, as the singer cannot guarantee the safety of the bird if it chooses to stay. The lyrics encourage the bird to fly away and to seek freedom, away from the dangers that might come with love.
The first stanza of the song is a repetition of the encouragement to the bird to fly away. The second stanza points out the promise that the bird brings with its tender love, but again, the singer urges the bird to fly away before love "clips its wings". The third and final stanza describes where the bird should fly, beyond the dark mountains and cold winter winds, where it can be free forever.
Overall, "Pretty Bird" is a song about the struggle between love and freedom. The lyrics are a reminder that sometimes loving someone means letting them go and encouraging them to fly towards their own dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly away little pretty bird
Hazel Dickens is urging the little bird to escape from the impending danger or threat that might befall it.
Fly Fly away
The little bird is urged to move quickly to safety and avert the danger.
And pretty you'll always stay
She urges the bird to wisely use her beauty to go beyond the mountains where her freedom lies.
I see in your eyes a promise
Hazel Dickens is looking into the bird's eyes, taking notice of the distinct beauty that the bird possesses.
Your own tender love you bring
The bird brings a distinct kind of love to those in need and must, therefore, keep flying to continue fulfilling its duty.
Close the spring
The spring must be closed to prevent harm from coming to the bird and threaten its existence.
Loves own tender flame warms this meeting
The meeting between two parties is warmed by the flame of love that is unmistakable and can never be put out.
And loves tender song should sing
Hazel Dickens highlights the need for the little bird to continue passing on the message of love that she possesses through her beautiful song.
I cannot make you no promise
The singer cannot promise the bird good protection from predators, as they lay in wait to clip its wings.
For love is such a daily good thing
True love calls for a willingness to sacrifice for those in need every day, and although it might offer some protection, it's not a guarantee.
For he'd only clip your wings
She warns the bird of the imminent danger that awaits her if she doesn't fly away and avoid being captured by her predator.
Fly far beyond the dark mountain
The bird must fly over the mountain range where it can find protection and freedom to avoid any danger.
To where you'll be free ever more
The bird's destination is where it can freely soar, be itself, and not worry about the dangers that lie ahead.
Where the cold winter winds don't blow
The bird will find solace in a place where it can be free, beyond the reach of the harsh winter weather.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: HAZEL DICKENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessica Coss
Fly away little pretty bird
Fly Fly away
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I see in your eyes a promise
Your own tender love you bring
But fly away little pretty bird
Close the spring
Loves own tender flame warms this meeting
And loves tender song should sing
But fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I cannot make you no promise
For love is such a daily good thing
Fly away little pretty bird
For he'd only clip your wings
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'd always stay
Fly far beyond the dark mountain
To where you'll be free ever more
Fly away little pretty bird
Where the cold winter winds don't blow
Md Khorrom Khan
I want this as my funeral song for sure. But the problem is, I couldn't yet decide who sang it better. #HazelDickens or #CrookedStill!!!
Both are painfully beautiful..
BTW, Gifted brought me here.
"Fly away little pretty bird
Fly Fly away
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I see in your eyes a promise
Your own tender love you bring
But fly away little pretty bird
Close the spring
Loves own tender flame warms this meeting
And loves tender song should sing
But fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I cannot make you no promise
For love is such a daily good thing
Fly away little pretty bird
For he'd only clip your wings
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'd always stay
Fly far beyond the dark mountain
To where you'll be free ever more
Fly away little pretty bird
Where the cold winter winds don't blow"
Mike Reaves
This is truly a sad day. A unique type of music and way of life has just taken a giant step into leaving us forever. Hazel's songs and style of singing goes all the way back to the first white settlers that moved into the Appalachian Mountains. Her influence was widespread in; folk, bluegrass, and country music. Rest In Peace, Hazel....
Howard Fortyfive
If you haven't already and got a mind to and these are still in print look for the Foxfire Books. There was 6 or 7 of them. From the 1970s. I have 2 of the best ones. Moonshinin' and Log Cabin Buildin'. Back when books were made from PAPER and paper was made from TREES.
Christi L.
The Hulu series Dopesick brought me here. I was born and raised in West Virginia and this song has touched my soul and awakened my roots. ❤🏞
Robert W
Me too just right now
31415926535equalspi
Me three
Patti Height
Me too!!
Daniel Hoble
Ditto, Shazam could not find it...
F Mills
I'd watch Futureman and wake up hearing this song. After an episode, Hulu would send me to first bottle and this haunting song would wake me up. Had to find out about it, so I'm here for same reason.
Latanya A. Collier-Hall
Dopesick brought me here and this song made me tear up....Beautiful Voice!!
Karen Beck
Me too