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Boys 'em Buzzards Flyin'

from Migrations by The Littlest Birds

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about

Sharon: I learned this song from friends in Eugene, OR, and I know I’ve changed it a bit. It’s my daughter’s favorite song to sing while hiking in bear country—who needs bells? It’s funny that my dad always called all of us kid ‘buzzards’ so I have a personally affinity for these scavengers. As an ecologist, I appreciate that this song recognizes that although it’s sad to see roadkill, it’s food for the buzzards out there.

At some point after our first pressing of Migrations, we discovered that this tune was not traditional as we'd thought earlier, but a tune by the great fiddler Gary Harrison. For awhile we were still unsure of where the lyrics had come from till the summer of 2013 we were playing it with Sharon's friend in Eugene OR and discovered that he, Seth Kimmel, bass/cello/banjo luthier, had come up with the lyrics to help him keep the timing right in his head. Of course, then we also realized we'd kept the lyrics but adjusted the timing.... but oh well that's the case with music - always changing.

lyrics

Way up high, way up high, way up high
Buzzards flying, something must be dead
Way up high, way up high, way up high
Buzzards flying, something must be dead
Ain’t it sad
Some little critter dead on the road
Boys ‘em buzzards flyin’
Some little critter dead on the road
Boys ‘em buzzards flyin’

Way up high, way up high, way up high
Buzzards flying, something must be dead
Way up high, way up high, way up high
Buzzards flying, something must be dead
Ain’t they glad
Some little critter dead on the road
Boys ‘em buzzards flyin’
Some little critter dead on the road
Boys ‘em buzzards flyin’

credits

from Migrations, released October 14, 2011
Gary Harrison, music. Seth Kimmel, lyrics. Arr. The Littlest Birds

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The Littlest Birds Laramie, Wyoming

The Littlest Birds is the banjo-driven music of and Sharon Martinson, performing both solo concerts and currently with several duo and trio configurations. "Think instrumental virtuosity balanced by a breezy, backwoods soul, music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally soothing."
- Dan Bolles, Seven Days Weekly, Burlington VT, 2011 ... more

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