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The Cuckoo

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Place Collected: Tewkesbury
Date collected: 1908 (10 Apr)
Collector: Sharp, Cecil
Roud Number: 413

A song of huge popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, in many various forms with many various tunes, but curiously little found in Ireland. As it is a song composed of floating verses, no two versions are the same. Printed versions go back almost 250 years and possibly the song was old then. It has served in its time as a tender song of unrequited love and also a showcase for rollicking old time banjo.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 5 May 2015

Media & Downloads

See the song/tune as collected (PDF file)
Hear the song/tune (midi file)
Version to sing (PDF file)
Hear a version to sing (midi file)

Modern recording performed by: May Thrill

Hear a modern recording (mp3 stream):

Song/tune as collected (abc file)
Version to sing (abc file)


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