Forbert signed a recording contract with Nemperor in 1978, and they released his debut album, Alive on Arrival, that same year. His song "Romeo's Tune", although "dedicated to the memory of Florence Ballard" on the sleeve of Forbert's second album Jackrabbit Slim (released in 1979), is not about Supremes singer Ballard who died in 1976. "Forbert admits that Ballard became a timely connection for "Romeo's Tune", written about a girl from Meridian. "That seemed like such bad news to me and such sad news. She wasn't really taken care of by the music business, which is not a new story". At around this time critics hailed Forbert as "The new Bob Dylan" because of a similar vocal timbre and thoughtful songwriting. The front cover of Jackrabbit Slim encourages such comparisons with its simplicity: a black and white photo of Steve Forbert playing a well-worn Martin acoustic guitar with a capo on it, his shirt tinted green. The record was recorded in Nashville and produced by John Simon who had worked with The Band.
After many successful years, Forbert sought out new inspiration and found it when he relocated to Nashville in 1985. Forbert's tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Any Old Time, was nominated for a 2004 Grammy in the best traditional folk category. In 2006, he was inducted into the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame.
Recent albums include Strange Names & New Sensations (2007), The Place And The Time (2009), and Over With You (2012).
www.steveforbert.com
The Coo Coo Bird
Steve Forbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, the coo-coo, she’s a pretty bird
And she wobbles as she flies
But she never hollers coo-coo
Till the fourth day of July
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
(Um…ya)
Gonna build me log cabin
On a mountain so high
So I can see Willie
When he goes passing by
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
[Instrumental Bridge]
Well, I’ve played cards in England
Hell, I’ve played cards in Spain
I’ll bet you ten dollars
I can beat you next game
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
Jack-a-Diamonds, Jack-a-Diamonds
I’ve known you from old
You’ve robbed my poor pockets
Of my silver and my gold
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she’s a pretty bird
(Um…ya)
In Steve Forbert's song "The Coo Coo Bird" the artist describes a pretty bird called the coo coo that wobbles when it flies, but only ever hollers coo coo on the fourth of July. The second verse describes the artist's aspirations to build a log cabin on a mountain where he can see Willie when he passes by. The third verse has an instrumental bridge, and the fourth verse talks about how the artist has played cards in England and Spain and is confident he can beat the listener in the next game for ten dollars. He then sings about the Jack-a-Diamonds card, a familiar card game reference before repeating the chorus about the coo coo bird being pretty.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the coo-coo, she's a pretty bird
The singer admires the physical beauty of the cuckoo.
And she wobbles as she flies
The bird's flight is unsteady or shaky.
But she never hollers coo-coo
Contrary to popular belief, the bird does not make its cuckoo sound continuously.
Till the fourth day of July
The bird only makes its distinctive sound at specific times, such as on America's Independence Day.
Gonna build me log cabin
The artist intends to construct a simple home made of wood.
On a mountain so high
The singer desires to live on a high elevation for views and solitude.
So I can see Willie
The singer has a specific person in mind that he wants to watch for.
When he goes passing by
The artist wants to observe Willie from a distance without engaging with him.
Well, I've played cards in England
The artist has had experience playing cards even in other countries.
Hell, I've played cards in Spain
The artist has even played cards in urban areas of Spain.
I'll bet you ten dollars
The singer is willing to wager a small amount of money.
I can beat you next game
The artist is confident in his ability to win the next round.
Jack-a-Diamonds, Jack-a-Diamonds
The singer is calling out a specific playing card, which can have various meanings depending on the context.
I've known you from old
The singer has been familiar with this card for a long time.
You've robbed my poor pockets
The singer feels like he's been losing money or valuables because of this card.
Of my silver and my gold
The artist has lost precious items due to this card's unfavorable use.
The coo-coo is a pretty bird, she's a pretty bird
The artist repeats his admiration for the cuckoo's appearance.
Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
russrosh
on Get Well Soon
Love it!