THE BIRD
(Hal Coleman / Barry Etris)


Jerry Reed - 1982






Well my throat was dry and it was a-gettin' late
I was at this bar on an interstate
When a guy with this bird on his shoulder walked in the door, yeah
He proceeded to tell me the strangest thing
He said, "Sir, this bird of mine can sing 
Like no other bird you have ever heard before!"
Well I kinda looked at the guy and said, "Oh really?"
And he turned to the bird and said, "Do old Willie"
When that bird started singing I almost hit the floor


(WILLIE NELSON VOICE)
(Whiskey River take my mind)
(Don't let her memory torture me)
(Whiskey River don't run dry)
(Now you're all I got to take care of me)
Huh, well if that ain't the durndest thing


Well, I thought, son, what a heck of a thing
A man could get rich makin' that bird sing
And I could feel this wild idea comin' on strong
And besides, I'm sittin' here with two weeks pay
And I'd probably blow it on beer anyway
An' then he said, "Hey, wait'll you hear him sing like George Jones


(GEORGE JONES VOICE)
(He stopped loving her today)
(They placed a wreath upon his door)
(Soon they'll carry him away)
(He stopped loving her today)


I said, "Well, that does it, sir, yep
I'd like to buy that bird
Would five hundred dollars take him off your hands, huh?"
Well, he thought for a while and he said, "Alright"
And he handed me the bird and he said "Goodnight"
He counted my money and out the door he ran


Well, I was thinkin' I'd found the rainbow's end
And the money would soon be pourin' in
When suddenly the bird just flew out the door and he was gone
Well, then it hit me and I got boilin' mad
'Cause I knew right then that I'd been had
And as he flew off into the night he was singin' this song


(WILLIE NELSON VOICE)
(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 friends)
(And I can't wait to get on the road again)
(On the road again)
MY BIRD!
(I just can't wait to get on the road again)
MY MONEY'S GONE!
(The life I love is making money with my friends)
(And I can't wait to get on the road again)
SOMEBODY GET ME A BEE-BEE GUN!
(On the road again)
I WANT THAT BIRD!
(I just can't wait to get on the road again)
LISTEN TO THE BIRD!
(The life I love is making money with my friends)
(And I can't wait to get on the road again)






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2008)