Guitar: song examples: Campfire Diploma: The Cockoo: An Open Learning Guide

Old English folk song (before 1800) – Alternative title: "The Coo-Coo", "The Coo-Coo Bird", "The Cuckoo Bird", "The Cuckoo Is A Pretty Bird" etc., Text and melody: trad. in a version by Mjchael, arranged by Mjchael

This song has been interpreted countless times in many text versions. It is usually sung about a fickle lover who is just as unreliable (literally fickle) as a cuckoo.

In the USA, a gambler is something of a prime example of an unreliable lover. It is therefore not surprising that the verses have been rearranged accordingly. In the version presented here, the story of a gambler whose luck has run out is retold. Joan Baez, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary are just some of the many performers. The melody is always sung slightly differently from performer to performer. Some even vary the melody from verse to verse. Therefore, only a very simplified form is shown here.

Source and licence

Text adapted from Guitar/song examples/Campfire Diploma/The Cockoo by Wikibooks contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. This adapted text is shared under the same licence. Contributor history.