Kate Rusby (born 4 December 1973 in Barnsley; currently based in Penistone,… Read Full Bio ↴Kate Rusby (born 4 December 1973 in Barnsley; currently based in Penistone, Yorkshire) is an English folksinger and one of the most popular folk singers of traditional English folk songs. She was at the centre of the folk revival in the 1990s which occurred with the coming of age of the children of those who were part of the 60s folk revival. In 2001 The Guardian described her as "a superstar of the British acoustic scene". In 2007 the BBC website described her as "The first lady of young folkies". She is one of the few folk singers to have been nominated for the Mercury Prize.

After learning to play the guitar, the fiddle, and the piano, as well as to sing, Rusby played at many local folk festivals as a child and adolescent. She came to wider attention through her duets with her friend and fellow Barnsley folk singer Kathryn Roberts on the 1995 album Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts.

At about this time she joined, and became the lead vocalist of, the all-female Celtic folk band The Poozies. This led to her becoming a founding member of the group Equation, which included Kathryn Roberts and Seth Lakeman. Rusby left Equation (being replaced by Cara Dillon) to follow a more traditional direction and, in 1997, released her debut solo album Hourglass produced by Scottish fiddler John McCusker (to whom Rusby was married for some time).

In 1999 Rusby recorded Sleepless which earned her a Mercury Music Prize nomination and the BBC Folk Award for Best Album and Best Folk Singer.

Rusby continues to release albums mixing traditional and self-penned songs on her own Pure Records, winning fans as diverse as Graham Coxon (who provided the illustration for her album The Girl Who Couldn't Fly) and collaborator Ronan Keating.

2008 saw the release of Sweet Bells, an album of traditional Christmas songs interpreted by Rusby.

In 2010, Rusby released the album Make the Light, a collection of self-penned songs, and in 2011 issued a second collection of Christmas songs titled While Mortals Sleep.

www.katerusby.com

Mocking bird
Kate Rusby Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can see that mocking bird
For years he has followed
Now I don't believe a word
I can see that mocking bird
I know he'll never leave
Though his taunts can't hurt

When he flies, he's singing lies

And when he files, he's singin' lies.

He will never leave my side
Brave though he is
I know the countless times He tried
He will meet my fear and pride
I know he'll never leave
And I cannot hide

But when he flies, he's singing lies
And when he files, he's singin' lies.

I can see that bird of shame
I won't be ruled by anger
And I won't play the game
I can see that bird of shame
I'm stronger than that now
I won't bear the blame

But when he flies, he's singing lies
And when he files, he's singin' lies.

I can see that mocking bird
For years he has followed
Now he's seen, but never heard
I can see that mocking bird
I know he's there behind
And his taunts can't hurt

But when he flies, he's singing lies
And when he files, he's singin' lies.

In his bird disguise, he's singing lies
He'll make you fly, by singin' lies.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kate Rusby's song, "Mocking Bird," describe the struggle between the singer and a mocking bird that has been following her for years. At first, she seems to be held captive by the bird's taunting and lies, but eventually, she realizes that it is up to her to break free from his grasp. Through the song, she gains strength and resilience, eventually ending up empowered and able to ignore the bird's attempts at manipulation.

The mocking bird, in this case, serves as a metaphor for the negative inner voice that can plague people and hold them back in life. The bird's lies and taunts are representative of the negative self-talk that can keep individuals from achieving their goals or feeling confident in their abilities. The singer, in turn, represents the strength that one can find within themselves to overcome these negative thoughts and find their own truth.

Overall, "Mocking Bird" is an empowering song about taking control of one's own thoughts and attitudes, refusing to let negativity hold them back, and finding confidence and self-assurance in the face of doubt.

Line by Line Meaning

I can see that mocking bird
She is aware of the presence of the bird

For years he has followed
The bird has been around for a long time

Now I don't believe a word
She no longer believes what the bird says

I know he'll never leave
The bird will always be around

Though his taunts can't hurt
The bird's words no longer have power over her

When he flies, he's singing lies
The bird's actions are deceptive

He will never leave my side
The bird will always be with her

Brave though he is
The bird is bold

I know the countless times He tried
The bird has made several attempts to influence her

He will meet my fear and pride
The bird's attempts will not be successful

And I cannot hide
She is no longer afraid