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Free Little Bird liner notes
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To my mind, the best music always comes as somewhat a surprise. I have known the music of Marie Burns and her sisters for several years, and as much as I enjoy what they have done I have always heard them as one voice. Of course that is not really fair since from the beginning they have all been soloists, but with this album, Marie gets to take center stage all alone. I like music that is not folk, not rock, not country, not pop, but either all of the above or none of the above. Marie seems to agree. From the opening "Dance With The Gypsies", from renowned Oklahoma songwriter Bob Childers to her own wonderful closing song, "Comfort From The Cold", this is a recording that is heartfelt, sensuous and born from years of turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones. Songs of life and songs of love, both realized and unrequited, these fifteen songs prove that Marie Burns belongs up there with our very best vocalists - and songwriters. "River of Sorrow" shows how much she loves old time country, while on the other hand songs such as "Just One Night" celebrate a natural sexuality and yearning you rarely hear in folk music circles. But of course Marie Burns is not a folksinger, no matter hoe many clubs, festivals and coffeehouses she may play. And thank god for that!! Ok, "Just One Night" is playing again and I am gonna go close my eyes for a while until "Dancing In The Moonlight" wakes me from the dream and makes me glad I have this great music to keep me company.
After years of performing and recording with the Woodshed All-Stars, Southern Tears, and the Burns Sisters, Marie Burns finally steps out on her own with a solo CD that neatly summarizes her influences in country, old time, folk and pop. Her pliable, airy voice easily winds its way through the mix of originals and well-chosen covers, including songs from Hazel Dickens, Bob Childers and Fred Eaglesmith. Marie's daughter, Anna Burns Lashley, makes her recording debut on "New Kind Of Old Fashioned Girl", proving that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It may have been a long time in the making, but "Free Little Bird" definitely was worth the wait.
Jim Catalano
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Free Little Bird credits
Recorded at the following studios:
Sound Wave Studio, Nashville Tennessee (Engineer - Rich Adler)
Electric Wilburland, Newfield New York (Engineers - Rich DePaolo, Will Russell)
The Hot Closet, Nashville Tennessee (Engineer - Jim Kimball)
Mixed and Mastered by Rich DePaolo at Electric Wilburland in Newfield New York Cover Photos: Front - Rachel Hogancamp Back cover - Carter Lashley Booklet - Carter Lashley, Annie Burns, Marie Burns Graphic Artists - Studio Xi and Pat Burke Artistic director and control freak - Marie Burns Jimmy LaFave appears courtesy of Bohemia Beat Missy Raines appears courtesy of Pinecastle Records Stuart Duncan appears courtesy of Rounder Records Chris Thile appears courtesy of Sugar Hill Records
Free Little Bird lyrics
1. Dance with the Gypsies (Bob Childers)
acoustic guitars - Jim Kimball drums - Daryl Burgess bass - Don Kerce keyboards - Jimmy Nichols electric guitar - Pat Buchanan fiddle - Andrea Zonn mandolin - Chris Thile back up vocals - Jimmy LaFave Lets go dance with the Gypsies tonight Dance with the Gypsies tonight Gypsies are dancing down by the river Lets go dance with the gypsies tonight We'll dance in a circle round the fire Dance in a circle round the fire Gypsies are dancing down by the river Lets go dance with the gypsies tonight Can't you hear that soulful violin can't you hear that mournful mandolin Gypsies are dancing down by the river Lets go dance with the Gypsies tonight....... repeat chorus
2. Ramblin Woman (Hazel Dickens)
acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball electric guitars - Jim Kimball drums - Daryl Burgess bass - Don Kerce piano - Jimmy Nichols fiddle - Andrea Zonn mandolin - Chris Thile banjo - Mac Benford You been handing me a lot of sweet talk about things you want us to do You been talking about settling down in a dream house built for two I hate to disappoint you but I don't fit in to that plan Cause I'm a ramblin woman, and you're a home loving man chorus: I'm a ramblin woman with a different set of plans And you know a ramblin woman is no good for a home loving man There's a whole lot of places my eyes are longng to see Where there is no dream cottage no babies on my knee There's a whole lot of people just waiting to shake my hand And you know a ramblin woman is no good for a home loving man Take all your sweet talk and give it to some other girl Who'll be happy to rock you babies and live in your kind of world But I'm a different kind of woman with a different set of plans And you know a ramblin woman is no good for a home loving man repeat chorus
3. Restaurant Boy (Marie Burns / David Kent)
drums - Daryl Burgess keyboards - Jimmy Nichols bass - Don Kerce fiddle - Stuart Duncan electric guitar - Pat Buchanan acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball There's this boy who comes to the restaurant where I work every night he takes the table by the jukebox he takes his coffee light He doesn't know what he does to me He doesn't know that he's my fantasy He doesn't even know that I exist or what I'd do for just one kiss From that boy who comes to the restaurant He only stays a while I've never seen him talk to anybody I've never seen him smile I see him sitting there so all alone He looks so sad I want to take him home Throw on some dinner and when we get through Maybe think of something else to do chorus: Well I want to tell him about the way I feel I want to tell him but I start shaking when I serve his meal Oh that boy who comes in the restaurant and then he's on his way Another quarter on the table Another working day Someday I'm going to throw away my apron Sit down with him and make some conversation Now I'd better get this counter clean So I can go back home to night and dream of that boy repeat chorus Oh that boy who comes in the restaurant and then he's on his way Another quarter on the table Another working day Some day I'm going to throw away my apron Sit down with him and make some conversation But now I'd better get this counter clean so I can go back home tonight and dream of that boy I'm going crazy for that boy
4. Auction at the Old Homeplace (Mike Henderson)
acoustic guitar - Steve Sheehan acoustic bass - Missy Raines fiddle - Andrea Zonn mandolin - Chris Thile fretted dobro - Steve Sheehan back up vocal - Jeannie Burns We put everything in boxes Stacked them on the porch outside The house's heart was empty bad luck had stole our pride And the mirror on the bureau reflected strange unloving hands sorting through our memories life's hopes and plans chorus: It took many years to gather all the treasures that we owned All the bits and pieces of what became our home Until hard times and trouble came by our house to stay There was an auction at the homeplace They just hauled our life away The auctioneer stood on the pickup And the crowd stood on the ground I stood next to daddy and I scuffed my feet around We just watched that big reunion of folks we never met The sounds and smells and laughter I don't think I can forget repeat chorus When it all was over and the crowd had moved along Even the church ladies had sold their food and gone Daddy piled us in a pickup He said we can't go home no more We headed for the city broken up and dirt poor repeat chorus
5. Stepping Stone (D Kent/ L White/C Wiseman)
acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball drums - Daryl Burgess electric guitar - Pat Buchanan bass - Don Kerce keyboards - Jimmy Nichols fiddle - Stuart Duncan Here I am at another dead end Stopped in my tracks again Closer than I've ever been to where I want to be A broken heart standing in my way Big as life on a real bad day but making lemons into lemonade is nothing new to me chorus: This ain't no stumblin' block It's just a stepping stone Gonna climb right up on top and take a good look at where I'm going It ain't gonna slow me down, hold me back or turn me around This ain't no stumblin' block, this ain't no stumblin' block this ain't no stumbling block It's just a stepping stone Looking back I realize how hard it is to recognize opportunity in disguise as some calamity So I ain't gonna cuss my luck every time a door slams shut I know another one will open up as long as I believe chorus:
6. What Are You Doing Tonight (Marie Burns / Steve Seskin)
acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball piano - Jimmy Nichols fiddle - Stuart Duncan electric guitar - Pat Buchanan drums - Daryl Burgess bass - Don Kerce Last time I saw you I couldn't look you in the eye You know I'm not one for playing games And I bet you're wondering why I haven't called Let me try to explain I've been feeling a spark that hasn't been there in the past While we're talking heart to heart I thought I'd ask chorus: What are you doing tonight I've been thinking about you I got this feeling you just might like to go out dancing We've been friends for a long time I hope I'm not out of line What are you doing tonight Nothing makes me happier than spending time with you You make my troubles disappear I've been searching everywhere to find my one true love When all along you've been right here We can walk along the lake stare up art the stars Baby I just want to be right where you are chorus:
7.Living In the Good Old Days (Marie Burns / David Kent)
acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball bass - Don Kerce piano - Jimmy Nichols electric guitar - Pat Buchanan fiddle - Stuart Duncan drums - Daryl Burgess back up vocals - Doug Robinson The wind and the rain has taken the paint off the house up on the hill It may not look like much right now Perhaps it never will But it's so full of love In oh so many ways The house we're living in as we begin our good old days chorus: The good old days we'll remember The good old days we'll recall When we're looking back At the times we had our backs against the wall We don't have money But we've got love and all of the stars above Shining on you and me and we'll always be Living in the good old days We can't afford to go out on the town so we're staying home tonight Put the baby in to bed I'll put on some candle light We can dance across the kitchen floor while the music softly plays with the love you're giving I know we're living in the good old days repeat chorus When we're old and gray and in the rocking chair We'll be thankful for the memories we share repeat chorus no we ain't got a dime to spare but we got love and we don't care It's just you and me and we'll always be Living in the good old days
8. Free Little Bird (traditional)
acoustic guitars - Steve Sheehan acoustic bass - Missy Raines fiddle - Stuart Duncan mandolin - Stuart Duncan banjo - Mac Benford back up vocal - Doug Robinson I'm as free a little bird as I can be I'm as free a little bird as I can be Gonna build my nest in a wide oak tree Where the bad boys cannot bother me Well if I was a little bird I'd never build a nest on the ground No I'd build my nest in a wide oak tree Where the bad boys cannot knock it down repeat chorus If I was a little bee I'd never get my honey from the hive no I'd steel my honey from my darlings lips and back to the hive I would fly repeat chorus If I was a little fish I'd never bite a hook or a line no I'd swim way out to the middle of the sea and leave all the big fish behind repeat chorus
9.River of Sorrow (Marie Burns)
acoustic guitars - Jim Kimball drums - Daryl Burgess bass - Don Kerce piano - Jimmy Nichols electric guitar - Pat Buchanan fiddle - Andrea Zonn mandolin - Chris Thile back up vocals - Jim Lauderdale, Jim Kimball Had a dream the other night remembered in the morning light looking out the sky was cold and gray I was standing by a river wide You were on the other side and the only bridge across had washed away And I was calling to you, you couldn't hear me The river of Sorrow raging on Rain falling down on me and I was just a memory and everything we had was gone Lying here I think of you and all that I have put you through The choices, baby, that I made The broken hearts both yours and mine and all the dreams we left behind The lessons that I've learned and the price you pay..... and Now I'm calling to you but You can't hear me The river of Sorrow rages on Let the rain fall down on me and leave me with my memories the love that we had is gone I know it's time for moving on.... yea, I'm moving on.......
10. Here's the Keys (Fred Eaglesmith)
acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball bass - Don Kerce bowed bass - Don Kerce drums - Daryl Burgess mandolin - Chris Thile electric guitar - Jim Kimball electric piano - Jimmy Nichols It sure is good to see you, and you sure are looking fine Hardly recognized you It's been such a long time Last time I saw you you were cruising down the line with some new heart I guess you broke and then you set aside If you're looking for a new one to test drive Here's the keys, take mine I know your reputation, and frankly it's a drag I know you've broken every single heart you've ever had You say your going around the block and then you go around the bend and you twist and turn and crash and burn til there's nothing left of them if you're looking for a new one to test drive Here's the keys, take mine At fifty miles an hour I'm barely getting going at eight five I think you'll find I'm starting to turn on At a hundred and ten well darling then if you think you dare take her up another notch and see if you get scared You may want to settle back and let me drive Here's the keys, take mine My heart's crashed in to every wall on every single track Come off the rail a flying just to be towed back I've had it tuned and I've had it timed and I've had it checked and checked Darling I don't think your gonna believe the ride you get If you're looking for a new on to test drive Here's the keys, take mine chorus:
11.Just One Night (Marie Burns / Martin Simpson)
acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball acoustic bass - Don Kerce piano - Jimmy Nichols drums - Daryl Burgess fiddle - Stuart Duncan I go about my business, do the work I need to do when I close my eyes at night, I always think of you We come from different places, we walk different avenues but baby what I'd give to spend some time with you Just one night Just one night Just one night of love Can you keep a secret, or do you kiss and tell should I flip a coin or throw it in the wishing well Tender hearts get broken baby There's no guarantee Chances are for taking Come on and take this one with me Just one night Just one night Just one night of love I'm willing to pay the price in fact I'd pay it twice for just one night of your love... Life gets complicated, when it comes down to the heart The rules and regulations tear me apart so I hide my feelings, try to do what's right Don't want to hurt nobody I just want to hold you tight Just one night Just one night Just one night of love I'm willing to pay the price in fact I'd pay it twice for just one night of your love I said I'm willing to pay the price In fact I'd pay it twice For just one night of your sweet love
12. Dancing in the Moonlight (Sherman Kelly)
acoustic guitars - Jim Kimball drums - Daryl Burgess bass - Don Kerce electric guitars - Pat Buchanan and Rich DePaolo fiddles - Andrea Zonn and Stuart Duncan mandolin - Chris Thile back up vocals - Doug Robinson and Joe Burns We get it on most every night when that moon gets big and bright It's a supernatural delight everybody dancing in the moonlight chorus: Dancing in the moonlight Every body feeling warm and right It's such a fine and natural sight Everybody dancing in the moonlight We like our fun and we never fight You can't dance and stay uptight it's a supernatural delight Everybody dancing in the moonlight repeat chorus Every body here is out of sight they don't bark and they don't bite it's a super natural delight Every body dancing in the moonlight repeat chorus
13. New Kind Of Old Fashioned Girl (Marie Burns / Sheila Burns)
acoustic guitars - Steve Sheehan acoustic - bass Missy Raines fiddle - Stuart Duncan duet vocalist - Anna Burns Lashley back up vocals - Jasmine Burns, Sarah Burns, Ella Varn special guest - Roan Burns I'm a new kind of old fashioned girl Living in this crazy world the road it's not easy, but I'll find my way I'm a new kind of old fashioned girl I like canning peaches and making cherry pie sentimental movies can make me cry sitting on the front porch holding hands gives me a thrill I make my own decisions and I pay my own bills repeat chorus Taking care of kids and going to work most every day Sometimes cooking dinner is the high point of my day I like going dancing to chase away my blues I don't want nobody to tell me what to do repeat chorus Some folks think I'm pushy cause I say what's on my mind what's the point of living if your lying all the time repeat chorus I don't mind getting dirty keeping up with all the chores The car the house the garden there's always more I like getting flowers and wearing pretty things My main ambition's not a diamond ring repeat chorus
14. Dropping Like Flies (Marie Burns / Matthew Cravatta)
drums - Darly Burgess acoustic guitar - Jim Kimball fiddle - Stewart Duncan mandolin - Chris Thile keyboads - Jimmy Nichols electric guitars - Jim Kimball bass - Don Kerce backup vocals - Jim Lauderdale spoken word - Jim Lauderdale They're dropping like flies all around me They're dropping like flies all around me I remember when I was a kid I just turned seven my little brother died and I learned about heaven first time I saw my daddy cry and I was frightened turned to my mother and asked her why chorus: They're Dropping like flies all around me Dropping like flies all around me tears in my eyes I can't deny that as the years roll bye they keep dropping like flies So many close to me have gone so many hearts are broken It's a mystery how life goes on until we meet again Cold bodies laid in sacred ground with the sorrow flowing It's dust to dust come gather round repeat chorus bridge: I'm here to sing with who remains and I pray that time can ease the pain repeat chorus (Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, One fine morning when my race is run, I'll fly away, White dove will mourn in sorrow, Amazing Grace how sweet the sound....)acoustic guitars - Jim Kimball drums - Daryl Burgess bass - Don Kerce fiddle - Andrea Zonn mandolin - Chris Thile accordion - Welcome keyboards - Jimmy Nichols back up vocals - Seamus Burns, Anna Burns Lashley, Jasmine Burns It's December snow is falling Friends are calling, It's that time of year Soon we'll gather all together join to welcome the new year chorus: Light the fire start the music Let ther magic fill your soul Candles burning seasons turning Bringing comfort from the cold The nights grow longer, Cold wind stronger still a flame burns, this I know We'll tell the stories of our mothers and our fathers from long ago repeat chorus We'll raise our glasses, count our blessings Leave our troubles by the way Our children laughing, lovers dancing til the night turns in to day repeat chorus
