Cuckoo (Jack O’ Diamonds)

the Cuckoo (Jack O’ Diamonds)

Trad.

A: 4/4
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The Cuckoo, she’s a pretty bird How she warbles when she flies
She don’t ever call her cuckoo
’til midsummer – that fourth day of July
Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds, I have known you of old
You done robbed my poor little pockets of their silver, and their gold

I played cards in England, I played card in Spain
I’ll bet you my last dollar I will beat you the next game
No, my horses, they ain’t hungry, they won’t be eatin’ your hay
I’ll just take them a little farther, I guess I’ll feed them on the way

Now the Cuckoo, she’s a pretty bird, I wish that she was mine
She don’t ever drink the water, she only drinks the wine

Who will kiss your ruby lips? Who will glove your pretty hands?
I’ll just live by mine own wits, she said, I don’t need no man…
Can’t you understand?

I’m gonna build me a log cabin, on a mountain so high, so I can watch poor Willi she goes ridin’ by

The Cuckoo, she’s a pretty bird, how she warbles as she flies
She don’t ever call her cuckoo
’til midsummer – that fourth day of July
Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds, I have known you of old
You done robbed my poor pockets of something more precious than silver or gold

Author:  Trad.