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Author
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Topic: Great Speckled Bird
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Warren Slavin
Member From: Southampton, PA, 18966. USA
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posted 17 June 2006 03:21 PM
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A friend of mine who served in the Mediterrean Theatre (WWII) heard the song over the Armed Forces Radio "The Great Speckled Bird". I heard it when in the Navy on ship by several mates from the South -- they sang and played mandolins and guitars. My friend has not heard it played since his service days -- I have an LP of Sonny Burnette, Weldon Myrick, and Hal Rugg where one track is the "Great Speckled Bird", as an instrumental (all steel). Does anyone on the forum have a version that they can upload (with lyrics) so I can give my friend the song he wanted to hear for many years? Would appreciate it if you have a version. |
c c johnson
Member From: killeen,tx usa
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posted 17 June 2006 03:56 PM
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Hi Warren. I have Roy Acuffs orig 78 on this with Clel Summy playing Dobro. I don't know how to send it on the internet but if no one can help you I will send you a cassette. CC |
Danny James
Member From: Columbus, Indiana, USA
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posted 17 June 2006 03:56 PM
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Roy Acuff used to do that song on the Grand Ole Opry a lot. There should be plenty of recordings around by Mr. Acuff. For the lyrics go to Google --type in the song title then after that "lyrics". The lyrics should be availabled to you many places there. Hope this helps a little. |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 17 June 2006 04:22 PM
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Warren--below are lyrics I pulled off a website. I thought for sure that I had this on a CD to send you but I can't seem to find it. quote:
THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD
Recorded by Roy Acuff
Words and music by (Reverend) Guy Smith
1. [G] What a beautiful thought I am [C] thinking
Con-[D] cerning a great speckled [G] bird
Remember her name is re-[C] corded
On the [D] pages of God's Holy [G] Word.
2. All the other birds are flocking 'round her
And she is despised by the squad
But the great speckled bird in the Bible
Is one with the great church of God.
3. All the other churches are against her
They envy her glory and fame
They hate her because she is chosen
And has not denied Jesus' name.
4. Desiring to lower her standard
They watch every move that she makes
They long to find fault with her teachings
But really they find no mistake.
5. She is spreading her wings for a journey
She's going to leave by and by
When the trumpet shall sound in the morning
She'll rise and go up in the sky.
6. In the presence of all her despisers
With a song never uttered before
She will rise and be gone in a moment
Till the great tribulation is o'er.
7. I am glad I have learned of her meekness
I am proud that my name is on her book
For I want to be one never fearing
The face of my Savior to look.
8. When He cometh descending from heaven
On the cloud that He writes in His Word
I'll be joyfully carried to meet Him
On the wings of that great speckled bird.
Note. Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys
Capitol Records - J-LZC-11
Verses 2-3 & 5-6 not on original recording.
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Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 17 June 2006 05:15 PM
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Warren, I've got recordings of this song done by Hank Locklin, Kitty Wells, The Louvin Brothers, and Marty Robbins if your interested in any of them. |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 17 June 2006 06:20 PM
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Scotty has this song in his "Basic C6th nonpedal lap steel method" book (Mel Bay)
#35
Great tune too.------------------
HSGA & RMSGC member
Play it with "Glass"
Boyett's Glass Bars
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Warren Slavin
Member From: Southampton, PA, 18966. USA
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posted 18 June 2006 06:08 AM
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Thanks guys -- this forum is great. If I can reciprocate anytime, I'll be glad to.
John, thanks for the lyrics, and Gary, I'm going to look for Scotty's Mel Bay book.
Andy, I'll take you up on your offer of Kitty Wells and Marty Robbins offer. Thanks again. Warren
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Don Walters
Member From: Regina, SK, Canada
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posted 20 June 2006 08:48 AM
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The melody is the same as I'm Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes Wild Side of Life It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels and probably others as well. |
Bob Stone
Member From: Gainesville, FL, USA
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posted 21 June 2006 02:25 PM
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This is a staple tune for Dobro players and was strongly identified with "Brother Oswald" Kirby. I always enjoyed Josh Graves' renditions of this number, as he invariably injected some blues and syncopated phrasing. Both Oswald and Graves recorded it many times.There was also a Mexican norteno song that used this melody too. I remember walking up to the Fiesta Primavera Mexican music festival in Moorehaven, FL about 12 years ago and hearing it sung in plaintive two-part harmony accompanied button accordion, bajo sexto, bass and drums. I did a double-take! Furthermore...
Sacred Steeler Lonnie "Big Ben" Bennett told me that his dad was a big country music fan and insisted that Lonnie play an instrumental version of this tune in church every week. They also often listened to opera records at home. [This message was edited by Bob Stone on 21 June 2006 at 02:32 PM.] [This message was edited by Bob Stone on 21 June 2006 at 02:38 PM.]
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