Misty River hails from the pacific northwest, and is a frequent performer a… Read Full Bio ↴Misty River hails from the pacific northwest, and is a frequent performer at Seattle's Folklife Festival. They have a very familiar feel, as they are made up of a mother/daughter pair and their family friends. They are all female. Some songs are covers, but they do also perform their own work. They trade off lead vocals, and combine a number of instruments.

The Cuckoo
Misty River Lyrics

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Come all ye, fair maidens, take warning from me
Don't place your, your affections on a young man too free.

Oh the Cuckoo, she's a pretty bird, and she warbles as she flies
She will bring you, no trouble and she'll tell you no lies

I'm a walkin' and a talkin' and a wanderin' go I
I'm a walkin' for my true love, he will come by and by

Oh the Cuckoo (oh the cuckoo), She's a pretty (she's a pretty bird), And she warbles as she flies
She will bring you (she'll bring you), no trouble (no trouble), And she'll tell you no lies

Oh the leaves they, they do wither, and the roots they do die (all stop)
And your love he, he will leave you and he'll never say why (WHY)

Oh the Cuckoo (oh the cuckoo), She's a pretty (she's a pretty bird), And she warbles as she flies
She will bring you (she'll bring you), no trouble (no trouble), And she'll tell you no lies

If he should leave me (uh, huh) I will get up, (mmm hmmm) in my best finery
And I'll walk as (uh, huh) proud past him, (mmm hmm), as he walked by me.

Oh the Cuckoo (oh the cuckoo), She's a pretty (she's a pretty bird),
And she warbles as she flies (as she flies)
She will bring you (she'll bring you), no trouble (no trouble),
And she'll tell you no lies (ah hah)

Acapella, reverse lines,
Girls: Oh the Cuckoo (Carol: oh the cuckoo), Girls: She's a pretty (Carol: she's a pretty bird),
And she warbles as she flies (as she flies)

Girls: She will bring you (Carol: she'll bring you), no trouble (Carol: no trouble),
And she'll tell you (together) no lies

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Misty River's song "The Cuckoo" serves as a warning to all fair maidens, advising them not to become too attached to a young and carefree man. The song then goes on to emphasize the beauty and innocent nature of the cuckoo bird, which sings without causing any trouble or telling any lies. The next verse seems to be spoken from the perspective of someone who is wandering and searching for their true love, entranced by the cuckoo bird's song. However, the following verse takes a darker turn, reminding the listener that leaves wither, roots die, and loves can leave without explanation. The final verse offers a sense of self-assurance, stating that if the singer's love were to leave them, they would walk past them proudly in their best finery, unfazed by their sudden departure.

At its core, "The Cuckoo" is a cautionary tale about love and attachment. The singer warns against becoming too emotionally invested in someone, recognizing that loves can be fleeting and that people can leave without explanation. The cuckoo bird serves as a symbol of innocence and purity, contrasting with the more complicated emotions of human love. The singer's final declaration of self-assurance in the face of a potential breakup emphasizes the importance of self-love and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Come all ye, fair maidens, take warning from me
A cautionary tale to all girls to not fall for free-spirited young men.

Don't place your, your affections on a young man too free.
Warns the girls to not fall in love with a man who is not ready for a commitment.

Oh the Cuckoo, she's a pretty bird, and she warbles as she flies
The Cuckoo bird is beautiful and sweet-sounding, but it is fickle and unreliable.

She will bring you, no trouble and she'll tell you no lies
The cuckoo bird will not cause any trouble, but it is not loyal or trustworthy either.

I'm a walkin' and a talkin' and a wanderin' go I
The singer is wandering around, waiting for her true love to show up.

I'm a walkin' for my true love, he will come by and by
She is walking around in search of her true love, who she hopes to find soon.

Oh the leaves they, they do wither, and the roots they do die (all stop)
Just like the fleeting beauty of leaves, the love that is not meant to last will eventually fade away.

And your love he, he will leave you and he'll never say why (WHY)
Her lover will leave her without any explanation, causing her to wonder why.

If he should leave me (uh, huh) I will get up, (mmm hmmm) in my best finery
If her lover leaves her, she will put on her best clothes and carry herself with pride.

And I'll walk as (uh, huh) proud past him, (mmm hmm), as he walked by me.
She will show her ex-lover that she is doing just fine without him by walking past him confidently.

Acapella, reverse lines,
A change to the song's vocal delivery.

Girls: Oh the Cuckoo (Carol: oh the cuckoo), Girls: She's a pretty (Carol: she's a pretty bird),
The repeated mention of the cuckoo bird's beauty and sweetness.

And she warbles as she flies (as she flies)
The cuckoo bird is admired for its beautiful singing voice and graceful flight.

Girls: She will bring you (Carol: she'll bring you), no trouble (Carol: no trouble),
Reaffirmation that the cuckoo bird is innocuous and does not disturb anything or anyone.

And she'll tell you (together) no lies
Emphasis on the cuckoo bird's simplistic and straightforward nature; it does not lie.

Contributed by Lucy Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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