the be good tanyas, “littlest birds”
from: blue horse 2000
“Well I feel like an old hobo
I’m sad lonesome and blue
I was fair as the summer day
Now the summer days are through
You pass through places
And places pass through you
But you carry ‘em with you
On the soles of your travellin’ shoes
Well I love you so dearly I love you so clearly
Wake you up in the mornin’ so early
Just to tell you I got the wanderin’ blues
I got the wanderin’ blues
And I’m gonna quit these ramblin’ ways one of
These days soon
And I’ll sing
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs...
Well it’s times like these
I feel so small and wild
Like the ramblin’ footsteps of a wanderin’ child
And I’m lonesome as a lonesome whippoorwill
Singin these blues with a warble and a trill
But I’m not too blue to fly
No I’m not too blue to fly cause
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs...
Well I love you so dearly
I love you so fearlessly
Wake you up in the mornin’ so early
Just to tell you I got the wanderin’ blues
I got the wanderin’ blues
And I don’t wanna leave you
I love you through and through
Oh I left my baby on a pretty blue train
And I sang my songs to the cold and the rain
I had the wanderin’ blues
And I sang those wanderin’ blues
And I’m gonna quit these ramblin’ ways
One of these days soon
And I’ll sing...
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs...
I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
I don’t care if nothin’ is mine
I don’t care if I’m nervous with you
I’ll do my lovin’ in the wintertime
”
“The Be Good Tanyas formed in 1999 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Samantha Parton had been living on the road as a tree planter and wandering and making music, when she met Jolie Holland. The two began playing songs, including one called "Be Good Tanyas", which had been written by a friend of Holland's. When the duo launched the Be Good Tanyas when they were joined by a mutual friend, Trish Klein. Frazey Ford, who had been planting trees with Parton, joined the trio, and they went on their first tour, opening for Bill Bourne.[3] Holland left the group in 2000 but returned to contribute to their first album, Blue Horse.” -wiki-
We fell in love with the sweet, quirky sounds of these ladies when we first heard them on a world music compilation. Great feeling, lovely voices, heartfelt all the way through. Since then I have become a big fan of Jolie Holland from her solo albums and concerts. Soulful simplicity. Sometimes just what I need.
-Natasha Hannah-
