Riley Baugus is an American old-time guitarist, banjo player, fiddler, sing… Read Full Bio ↴Riley Baugus is an American old-time guitarist, banjo player, fiddler, singer and instrument builder from Walkertown, North Carolina.

Baugus worked as a welder and blacksmith for 18 years before becoming a professional musician. He has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and England. He has played with several old-time string bands, including The Farmer's Daughters, The Konnarock Critters, The Red Hots, Backstep, and the Old Hollow Stringband. He tours regularly with Dirk Powell and Tim O'Brien, and frequently performs and tours with the dancer Ira Bernstein, with the duo show Appalachian Roots. He often performs as a guest musician with the Dirk Powell Band and the North Carolina folk band Polecat Creek. He sang on the soundtrack to the 2003 film Cold Mountain. He has recorded with Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Dirk Powell, and Martha Scanlan. He has taught banjo at the Augusta Heritage Center's Old Time Week in Elkins, West Virginia and at the Midwest Banjo Camp, in Olivet, Michigan.

Baugus released his first album, Life of Riley, in 2001. A second album, Long Steel Rail, was released in 2006. In 2019, Baugus released Little Black Train's a Comin'.

The Cuckoo
Riley Baugus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh the cuckoo
(Oh the cuckoo)
She's a pretty bird
(She's a pretty bird)
She warbles
As she flies
She never says cuckoo
Till the fourth day

Of July

Jack of diamonds
(Jack of diamonds)
Jack of diamonds
(Jack of diamonds)
I know you, from old
You've robbed
My poor pockets
Of my silver
And my gold

My horses ain't hungry
They won't eat your hay
I'll ride
Them a little further

I'll feed
Them along the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Cuckoo" describe the beauty of the cuckoo bird and its peculiar behavior of only singing its namesake call on the fourth of July. The cuckoo's song is compared to warbling, which implies a melodic and pleasant sound. However, the cuckoo's song on the fourth of July can be seen as an ironic symbol of the American holiday because the cuckoo bird is not native to North America.

The second half of the song focuses on a man addressing a person named Jack of Diamonds who appears to have cheated him out of his silver and gold. The singer is dismissive of this person and his attempts to sell hay to his horses. This part of the song can be seen as a commentary on the struggles of the working class and their mistrust of wealthy capitalists who exploit them for their own gain.

One interesting fact about "The Cuckoo" is that it is actually a traditional folk tune that dates back to at least the 19th century. The song has been covered by a variety of artists over the years, including Bob Dylan and Doc Watson. Another interesting fact is that the cuckoo bird was a popular symbol in Appalachian folk music, as it was seen as a bird that could predict the weather. Additionally, some versions of the song include an extra verse that implies that the singer is actually the cuckoo bird, further emphasizing the song's themes of deception and betrayal.

Chords:
Unfortunately, we couldn't find the chords for this version of the song. It is possible, however, to play the song with a simple three-chord progression using G, C, and D.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh the cuckoo
Oh the cuckoo

She's a pretty bird
The cuckoo is an attractive bird

She warbles
The cuckoo sings with trills and warbles

As she flies
The song of the cuckoo can be heard while flying

She never says cuckoo
Oddly enough, the cuckoo doesn't say cuckoo often

Till the fourth day of July
It takes four days for the cuckoo to start calling cuckoo

Jack of diamonds
Referring to someone named Jack of Diamonds

I know you, from old
I know you from a long time ago

You've robbed my poor pockets of my silver and my gold
You have previously stolen my money and valuable possessions

My horses ain't hungry
My horses are not hungry

They won't eat your hay
My horses do not want to eat the food you have provided