Song Lyric Sunday – Mockingbird

Jim Adams sparkles with his suggestion of gemstones, giving us the prompt:

Diamond/Emerald/Jade/Pearl/Ruby/Sapphire

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“Mockingbird” was written in 1963 by Inez and Charlie Foxx and recorded and released on Sue Records. Inez and Charlie Foxx were a brother and sister duo (often mistaken as a married couple) from Greensboro, NC who had their roots in gospel music. The song is based on the well-known lullaby “Hush Little Baby”. The song reached #2 on the Rhythm and Blues Charts and #7 on the U.S. pop charts. It did not reach the U.K. charts until it was re-released in 1969, reaching #22 on the U.K. charts.

The song has been covered by other well-known artists along the way. It was released by Dusty Springfield in 1964, Aretha Franklin in 1965.

James Taylor and Carly Simon (then-husband and wife) recorded a version of “Mockingbird” in 1973 and was released as a single for Carly Simon in 1974. This version would rise to #5 on the Pop Singles chart and certified gold. It is said performing this song on stage during Taylor’s 1975 tour helped Carly Simon overcome her fear of performing live on stage.

 

 

“Mockingbird”
Lyrics by MusixMatch

Everybody have you heard?
Mock (yeah)
Ing (yeah)
Bird (yeah)
Yeah (Oh yeah)
Mockin’ bird now
Everybody have you heard
He’s gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don’t sing
He’s gonna but me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won’t shine
Surely break this heart of mine
And that’s why I keep on tellin’ everybody
Say yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh
Here me now and understand
He’s gonna buy me some peace of mind
And if that peace of mind don’t stay
I’m gonna find myself a better way
And if that better way ain’t so
I’ll ride with the tide and go with the flow
And that’s why I keep on shoutin’ in your ear
Say yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh
I said everybody have you heard
Sh’e gonna buy me a mockingbird
Yeah, if that mockingbird don’t sing
She’s gonna buy me a diamond ring
If that diamond ring won’t shine
Yes, it will break this heart of mine
And there’s a reason why I keep on tellin’ everybody
Say yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh
Listen now and understand
She’s gonna find me some peace of mind
Yeah, if that peace of mind don’t stay
I’m gonna get myself a better way
I might rise above, I might go below
Ride with the tide and go with the flow
And that’s the reason why I keep on shoutin’ your ear saying
Yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, uh, oh
Mockingbird
Yeah I might rise above, I might go below
Ride with the tide and go with the flow
And that’s the reason why I’m shoutin’ in your ear saying
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, no, no, no, no

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Song Lyric Sunday April 12, 2020