US & Canada Versions: 82. The Bonny Birdy
[Nile's categoizes his "The Tattletale Birdy" as a version of Child 82, The Bonny Birdy. It appears to be a version of "Little Birdie" with a short refrain:
LITTLE BIRDIE- Coon Creek Girls recorded in their first recording session on May 30, 1938 is the song, "Little Birdie."
Little birdie, little birdie,
What makes you fly so high?
It's because I have a true little heart
And I don't care to die.
The verses of Niles version do tell the story of a bird spying on two lovers which resembles the Child 82 theme. It appears to be a rewrite of "Little Birdie" fashioned with a chorus resembling the chorus of Child 82 along with verses that resemble Child 82.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
The Tattletale Birdy- from Red Dock Dockery, Florine Dockery, Aunt Fanny Dockery(Boone, NC) 1934; Collected by John Jacob Niles
"Little birdy, little birdy,
Oh where were you hatched?"
"Away down in a swamp,
In a little holly bush."
CHORUS: Oh ginn-a-day and ginn a-way,
No time to stay, oh diddle-aye.
2. "Little birdy, little birdy,
What do you eat?"
"White bread and cow's milk
And a littel sweet meat."
3. "Little birdy, little birdy,
What did you then?"
"I was give to a lady
What lives in the glen."
4. "Little birdy, little birdy,
What did you there?"
"I watched my mistress,
Your own lady fair."
5. "Little birdy, little birdy,
What did you see?"
"Your mistress making free
With men one, two, and three."
6. "Litrle birdy, little birdy,
You lie and you lie!"
"I couldn't lie more than
You lie if I try."
7. "Little birdy, tittle birdy,
Where shall I go?"
"Home to shoot your mistress
For doing you so low!"
[text upcoming]