The Crow on The Cradle

Listen in stereo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io_UbPQb1qo&fmt=18
Cover of an original American folk tune from many years ago. Adapted by Sydney Carter and later by Jackson Browne. I saw Jackson Browne perform this live with The Chieftains at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, a long time ago.

All images used under specific license:
http://www.everystockphoto.com/

Guitars, Keyboard & Vocals by Mel.

The sheep's in the meadow
The cow's in the corn
Now is the time for a child to be born
He'll laugh at the moon
And cry for the sun
And if it's a boy he'll carry a gun
Sang the crow on the cradle

And if it should be that this baby's a girl
Never you mind if her hair doesn't curl
With rings on her fingers
And bells on her toes
And a bomber above her wherever she goes
Sang the crow on the cradle

The crow on the cradle
The black and the white
Somebody's baby is born for a fight
The crow on the cradle
The white and the black
Somebody's baby is not coming back
Sang the crow on the cradle

Your mother and father will sweat and they'll save
To build you a coffin and dig you a grave
Hush-a-bye little one, never you weep
For we've got a toy that can put you to sleep
Sang the crow on the cradle

Bring me my gun, and I'll shoot that bird dead
That's what your mother and father once said
The crow on the cradle, what can we do
Ah, this is a thing that I'll leave up to you
Sang the crow on the cradle
Sang the crow on the cradle

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• the
• crow
• on
• cradle
• jackson
• browne
• peace
• no
• nukes
• war
• mel
• chieftains

[shlomowMS]

great song, but does any of you happen to know who wrote the lyrics

[encinitasmel]

Sydney Carter wrote the original - this version of the lyrics is by Jackson Browne

[xxxSunbeamxxx]

Wow Mel. I don't know how I missed this one. Amazingly thought-provoking song to cover, combined with a video that made my eyes tear up in several parts. You touched my heart today, sir. Thank you for this brave video. Sunbeam :)

[encinitasmel]

Hi Jill! Yes it's a super old song and very relevant .. unfortunately .. thank you :))

[Proshka]

Excellent work!

[encinitasmel]

Thank you Proshka :)

[MyDaniela24]

Eccelso!

[MrDaria333]

meravigliosa!!!!!!

[aromod13]

@encinitasmel Wikipedia says the basis was originally an old American folk song.

[jagari1]

does anybody hv d pete seegar version? i m lookin 4 it

[livio1608]

Stupendo testo.

[C6H12B26]

Well originally an english northern song fron the XVI/XVII th century called " The kye's (cows) in the meadow ", The sheep's in the corn, Thy o'erlang in thy bed, Bonny at morn, Canny at neet, ... The bird's in their nest, and the troot's in the burn ; thy hinders thy mother at every turn. Canny at neet, bonny at morn. ... We're all laid idle Wi' keepin' in the bairn ; The lad will not work and the lass will not lairn ..."

Great intrpretation, Great thanks !

[ib2fast]

Excellent Mel!

Just Excellent!

KUDOS & *****

[FrostedFen]

I searched for this song and found this version and I'm enchanted. I remember my father singing and playing his guitar to this when I was little and I've always loved it's bitter sweet melody. This version is haunting, touching and a display of great talent. I've added it to my favourites.

[teaman7v]

To say Carter wrote the original is not quite accurate. He adapted the folks song which goes back hundreds of years.