Levon Helm
"Little Birds"


(Traditional)

Little birds are singing all around me, on every bush and vine,
My pleasures would be doubled if I could call you mine.

As I've sat here the whole night through till now it's a breakin' day,
I'm awaitin' for an answer, kind lady what do you say?

If I could tell to you my mind, I would choose a single life,
For I would never thought that it suited for me to be your wife.

So he wrote to her an answer and he sent it by full speed,
"You know I once did love you dearly, I once loved you indeed.

"But since that time my mind has changed, I loved another way,
I love a pretty fair damsel more suitable for me"

And it had not been, but a very short time 'til this maiden's mind did change,
She wrote him a letter, "Kind sir I am ashamed,

"If ever I have slighted you, or ever done you wrong,
I am so far away from you that I can't hear you moan"

Little birds are singing all around me, on every bush and vine,
My pleasures would be doubled if i could call you mine;
My pleasures would be doubled if i could call you mine