The Cuckoo
Words & Music:
Traditional
This is part of the two-chord, traditional song jamboree
printed in the September 2009 issue of Acoustic Guitar.
CHORUS:
Am G
Oh, the cuckoo, she's a pretty bird; she warbles as she flies.
Am G Am
And she never gets lonesome 'til the fourth [alt: "first"] day of July.
Gonna build me a cabin on the mountain so high;
So, I can see the cuckoo as she goes flyin' by.
CHORUS:
It's trouble, it's trouble on my mine.
If trouble don't kill me, I'll live a long, long time.
CHORUS:
I've gambled in England and I've gambled down in Spain
I gambled with five aces; now, I've gambled my last game
CHORUS:
Oh, it's gamblin' that's brought me prison
And it's gamblin' that's brought me pain
I'll never see the cuckoo or hear her song again
CHORUS:
Jack o' diamonds, jack o' diamonds, I know you of old
You robbed my poor pockets of silver and of gold
CHORUS: [2x]