THE BIRD

Writers Hal Coleman, Barry Etrics



Well my throat was dry and I was getting' late

And I was at this bat on the interstate

When this guy with a bird on his shoulder walked in the door

And he proceeded to tell me the strangest thing

He said, “Sir this bird of mine can sing like no other bird

You've never heard before!”

Well I just looked at the guy and said “Oh really?”

And he turned to the bird and said”Do ole Willie”

When that bird started singing I almost hit the floor.

Whiskey River take my mind

Don't let her memory torture me

Whiskey River don't run dry

You're all I got to take care of me

Well if that ain't the durndest thing

I thought, son, what a heck of a thing

A man could get rich making that bird sing

And I could feel this wild idear comin' on strong

I said, “I'm just sittin' here with two weeks pay

And I'd probably blow it all anyway

I'll buy that bird If he'll do one more song.”

Maybe I didn't hold you quite as often as I should have

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

I said, “well that does it sir, yep

I'd like to buy that bird

Would $500.00 take him off your hands?”

Well, he thought for a while and he said, “alright”

He handed me the bird and he said “goodnight”

Counted the money and out the door he ran

I was thinkin' I'd found the rainbow's end

My ship would soon be rolling in

When that bird sailed out the door

And he was gone

And as I watched him leave I got boilin' mad

‘Cause I knew right then that I'd been had

And as he faded in the night he was singing this song

On the road again

I just can't wait to get on the road again (Somebody stop that bird!)

The life I love is making money with my friend

And I can't wait to get on the road again