Sam Shackleton, "Cuckoo Bird," // GemsOnVHS™
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- When I was planning my second recording trip to Scotland, I knew I had to meet some local musicians who could well represent their culture. I was following in the footsteps of greats after all, like Alan Lomax, who spent a good deal of time in the far North recording folk songs. Some of you might have seen the first video from this Scottish series, with the incredible ballad singer Iona Fyfe ( • Iona Fyfe, "Mill o' Ti... ). Another traditional musician I reached out to was Sam Shackleton, (allegedly related to the notable Artic explorer, en.wikipedia.o...) or Sorley, if you prefer the Gaelic spelling. Sam, a student of traditional music, Scottish culture, history and the Gaelic language invited us with open arms into his home in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and showed us a night on the town i'll never forget. We drank our fair share of pints, caught some incredible sessions packed into pubs the size of American closets, and talked of Scottish independence late into the night.
Sam has been deep in traditional study at University the past couple years, and busking on the streets of Edinburgh. You can always tell a busker from a studio musician, I like to think. Buskers are louder, more emotive, a throwback to a time of traveling Bards, before amplification. You have only moments to impress a passerby for tips, and it forces you to hone your craft. Sorley lives up to his moniker, "the Bard", and puts on a show. This won't be the last time we meet, as I hope to return to Scotland for more recording, and Sam is keen to visit the Appalachian mountains hes heard so much about, where so many of his ancestors (and ours!) emigrated.
This song is a perfect example of the cross-Atlantic trade in culture, and you can learn more about it here
en.wikipedia.o...)
Find more of Sam's music here;
www.samshackle...
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I’m an American banjo player and this guy is great. I love how no two people play this song the same.
Right. That what good folk is to me, people telling it their own way.
I’m a Canadian who doesn't play the banjo 🪕 and I concur, this guy is still great
He slayed that thang
Trying to play it now, and its completely different
True!!!! Banjo player from Spain here. So old and so many different interpretations of it.
This man looks like he just got drafted for WW2
🤣 this is too accurate but it works
Ok this is hilarious but I’m pissed that I didn’t notice before hand
for a moment when i saw the photo of the video i believe it was an old video..
Is there tab for this version? I love it!
Class only seems to have died a long time ago.
I've heard that The Cuckoo is a super old song, like at least 800 years old with the lyrics unsurprisingly being changed. "Gonna build me a log cabin to see Willy as she goes passing by." Was originally "castle" instead of "log cabin" and "Willy" being William The Conquerer who took the English throne in 1066 AD. If true, pretty cool if you ask me.
Well, the verse about seeing Willy, as well as the verse about Jack o' Diamonds & probably some others, are floating verses, which means that they pop up in various different songs. Whether or not "Willy" refers to Wm. the Conqueror, that still doesn't necessarily mean that that verse originated in this song.
A lot of these songs are very old pretty Polly is from the 1600s
Willy in the modern version refers to the feds I'm pretty sure- need that cabin way up to see em coming for you and your still
@@galaxyanimal
Yes, floating verses that are radically different from the various English originals.
And the above poster is just repeating the Wm the Conqueror and 800 years old twaddle posted elsewhere.
@@galaxyanimal
Actually, what I think is happening is that there appears to be some confusion between this song and 'Sumer is a cumin in' which really is old (1200's) and which is also known as the 'Cuckoo Song'.
One of the best renditions I've heard of this song, I keep coming back to it almost weekly.
Daily for me
I'm a southern Appalachian American i grew up to my grandfather clawing the banjo to these classic tunes.
I never thought I’d find a version of the song I like better then Willie Watson’s
@@chrislackey2170 woah woah woah.. Willie Watson also sang this? Idk if he’ll top it in my books but his vibrato and singing voice is legendary
A lot of Scottish settled in Appalachia
I think I finally figured out how to play this! This is one of those tunes that inspired me to learn clawhammer banjo this year, and nobody seems to play it the same way. Go half a step down from G-Modal, stay on 13,22,32/33,43 for fretting and practice galax rolls.
A lot of the music from Appalachia comes from the Ulster Scots (or Scots Irish) who settled there. I grew up in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains in West Virginia and I heard these songs all my life. Thank you so much for sharing your music with us,
As someone from Georgia Appalachia, this is a sweet surprise to hear someone from Scotland sing like this
You are of us, though you do not remember.
Shouldn't be!
I can't stop listening to this!!!
Me too, ha!
A Sports Direct mug is the most British thing I've seen on Gems On VHS
I'd like to live next door to this guy so I could hear him practice
apartments like these in Edinburgh are pretty expensive
Oh man that is good. What a tough song. His roles are incredible.
TimeTravelinHendrix , Rolls, and he doesn’t roll, it’s claw hammer.
Came here to say rolls as well, but I'm surprised you dont consider those rolls. Clawhammer as it may be, it's hard to call that riff in the chorus anything but a roll.
Would your criteria from a roll require multiple fingers plucking as opposed to one finger...well... rolling over the strings?
@@buddysyst3m Less of a roll, more of a scrape.
@@JauntyWhale good answer. I'd accept that.
I have been listening to this all week. Can't get enough. Always quality here on GemOnVHS.
Still can't get enough...
This is great stuff and love GemsOnVHS for getting me here.
How on earth do you have a 6 day old comment on a video published 30 minutes ago
@@robertmccluskey7757 Patreon subscribers get to view video's earlier than the rest of us plebs.
Shit, this is one of the best videos on this channel! World class, I will put this on replay for days.
Came to correct myself. I did not put this on replay for days but for months.
MORE OF THIS GUY, PLEASE!
Hey it’s funny the famous explorer Shackleton made sure to always pack his banjo, there’s also a banjo company in Norwich, UK who use the name Shackleton on their banjos!
Great playing, love this
This version of the song is just too good. I keep returning to listen to it.
Major Ewan MacColl vibes from this guy. Good shit. And that voice is insanely cool!
Hey y’all, this field recording is now available to stream on our spotify. Check it out here:
open.spotify.com/track/3AiwyKx5WbrXvxBmF6GrxS?si=6281b080def6479a
Be sure to give us a follow on there so you’ll be the first to know when we release more.
Also, we have "Cuckoo Bird" and other Sam Shackleton favorites available for download on our Bandcamp page: gemssamshackleton.bandcamp.com/
Sam's got big plans, so follow him on Instagram to keep up,
instagram.com/sorleythebard/
Follow GemsOnVHS on Instagram as we explore where music's going and where it's been,
instagram.com/gemsonvhs/
Pin this!
One hella talent. Wish him all the best in his career (and hope to see more!) :)
Love that raking style, so smooth.
This version is badass. I've played this at least a couple hundred times in a month now
My fave sung version of this song
This song is a gem and rare to find people even know this song exists
I sing this same song and we still play music with the same sound here. I have to come to Scotland & Ireland. My people harken me
Been listening to this song all my life. One of my favorites. And AMAZING version! I follow Appalachian ballads. Which of course most started over there. It interesting to see each person's bent. And you did an amazing job!
Savage version! I used to play this with a buddy of mine, hopefully we'll all be back playing at gigs soon :)
I always want to learn to play the banjo. This guy makes me want to play it even more. This is Good
This is in my top 10 tracks of all time and I DJ progressive house music and techno.
Gets me right in my banjo feels.
I have listened to this so many times now. It has literally been months since I went to work without listening to this or having worn out my legs from keeping a beat. So genuine.
More with Sam is on the way. Just got back from a whole month with him in Scotland!
@@GemsOnVHS One of my own personal goals in life is to be able to play around folks so I can finally have my own sit down with y'all. Until then, other than the tiny capo, is he in standard double C? I just can't make my banjo produce the same sound.
Hot damn this song got me grooving
I’ve watched this dozens of times over the year mostly on my way to grouse covers dogs loaded down coffee in hand chasing prairie birds. Just a fantastic song that has held its weight for me over and over sounds great. Well done sir. I tip my hat to you. Wish I wrote this a while ago hope you get to see this and know some dog trainer in Iowa travels the country with your song in his playlist chasing birds of an older time.
That is awesome!
Update shot a new species of grouse I haven’t hunted before and I was listening to this song cruising the sand hills and prairies of Nebraska on the hunt for sharptail grouse and the new species for me prairie chicken! Ruffed grouse camp was a success we got on a ton of birds and put a couple down in the process keep ripping the banjo Sam!
He's playing in standard when this song is usually played in sawmill... And that fancy slide thing... I think I'm gonna have to re-teach myself!
Wow! Great voice, great singing, really great all round performance.
Sam... if you read this you have an awesome take on this! Your style is it's own is damn cool !!!
You need to come to Appalachia where you'd be so welcome I'm sure brother!!!
Good on him for saying Appalachia correctly. It always does my heart good hearing someone pronounce it well
Can say it either way. My family has been in Northern Appalachia since the 1700s and they all say it with the "sh" sound.
First heard oliver swain sing this song with kendal Carson on fiddle and loved it ever since. Had no idea it may have originated from bonny Scotland. Excellent version, well done. Love from UK, east coast.
Well, it was at least played their but can a case be made for it originating there?
@@RichardRuth
No, because it is a traditional English folk song.
Coco bird it one of all time favorite folk songs and oh boy did he do it justice.
This is so good
Damn good version of cuckoo bird my friend
Nice rendition, Bud. The side comments were an authentic touch that some old blues guys would do. You made it your own. Thanks for the performance.
Insane. I gotta learn this.
This is great stuff! This southern American approves!
Just the best cover of this piece of history great man!
Rory Gallagher, one of Ireland's great musicians (and for my money, our greatest), does a lovely version of this too. Fair play to Sam, he did it justice!
This versión Is much better than gallagers if you ask me
Waiting for this on Spotify. Come on y'all.
I listen to this at least once a day if not more
This is absolutely amazing. Intoxicating!
That outro kicks ass. Skills, man!!
That song is old as dirt but a damn good one.
One of my favourite renditions
It's nice to hear names like Alex Lomax. Such an amazing dream and glad to see his aspirations live on!
Love it! Lyrics below, chords are F#m and E all the way through, or, If you hate barree, Em and Dm with Capo 2
[Verse 1]
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird
Well she warbles when she flies
But I never caught a cuckoo
Til the 4th day of July
[Verse 2]
I'm gonna build me a log cabin
On a mountain, oh, so high
So I can see Willie
Where then he goes on by
[Verse 3]
Well I played cards down in England
And I played cards down in Spain
Well I bet you ten dollars
That I beat you, oh, next game
[Verse 4]
Jack of diamonds, jack of diamonds
And I know you from old
And you robbed my poor pockets
Of my silver and my gold
[Verse 5]
Well your horses ain't hungry
And now they won't eat your hay
I'm gonna ride on a little further
Go to meet them on my way
[Verse 6]
Well the cuckoo is a pretty bird
Well she warbles when she flies
But I never caught a cuckoo
Til the 4th day of July
Cedar River thank you
Would you call this a clawhammer style? Or something else?
@@jakesingleton6268 yes, this is clawhammer
@@jakesingleton6268 Interesting right hand style though, it's definitely different than most clawhammer styles
is it played in standard g tuning?
Brilliant! What a voice!
I really love the way this guy plays. So much rhythm!
This music is like candy for my ears
Seen 7 states since hearing this cut absolutely still flawless
:17 its neat when you can see someone is truly a kind soul.
Love this song!!!! Banjo too 💖
The instant switch from a Scottish accent to a Southern drawl was incredible
There are similarities
I love this version of this song
This one caught me by surprise
Excellent observations about buskers.
What a great sound. I wish I knew more about music so I could give a better compliment but god damn dude. That's the right sound 🤙🤙
Almost two years later and still my favorite song chasing birds 🤙🤙🤙
A Sister from NYC... Chill bumps! Young Man! Slainte!
Sammy boi, or shall I say good old Sorley?! :D I just bought a banjo myself and omly once you make much sense of the instrument I realise some of the talent you hold brother! Hope you're well, and please let's jamm soon! One love.
I love that little break he does twice through the song
The boys Scottish but got the fingers and mind of southerner I swear
It's the banjo. If he would have played this with traditional Scottish folk instruments, it wouldnt have been the same.
@@bouch2442 that's incorrect, I play banjo. The origin of the first banjos were African. The modern day banjos as the one he is playing were invented by Joel Sweeney In America. The style of playing he is doing is picking with rolls which was invented by Earl Skruggs in 1924 (American) jofflowson.com/banjo-for-complete-beginners/history-of-the-banjo#:~:text=Joel%20Sweeney%20was%20the%20first,people%20question%20these%20claims%20nowadays.
@@bouch2442 no it's not. Its african then made it's way to North america, then it went back with Irish immigrants when they went back to Ireland.
@@bouch2442 I thought the same as you, good on ya tho. Anyone here enjoying this is music is good people! Enjoy it!!
I think that you've got it backwards: southerners have the fingers & minds of scotsmen because they're part scottish.
Love how you play this dude. good on ya nice job sir.
i would love this on spotify
He looks absolutely flawless ❤️
Love this guy! I wanna meet him! I love the way you whoop boy! X
love that rake thing he does
Best version of this song I ever seen
This song taught me how to get started to learn the geitar .......good job man
Yes! You killed that, what a talent
"Your horses ain't hungry, and they won't eat your hay" -biggest roast of the millennium 🙏😎🙏
Great job my Scottish friend. greetings from North Carolina!
Great playing, singing, performance. Good luck with your career.
Great version
I come back to this video quite often
have you seen the new ones we've done with Sam?
Wow that Cuckoo is a pretty bird for sure great song and performance Sir.
Love this
Great video. Love that song. Thanks for sharing!
Lordy this man & his banjo pickin just gets me 🫠
Straight fire right there.
This is brilliant!
This song makes you want to run moonshine lol
Love the scrapes, class.
Sick bro!
Fabulous. Check out Rising Appalachia's version. They do a brilliant one on NPR.
Your voice is deadly good... This is incredible !
Thats awesome!!! Thanks
A group here, Kaleidoscope, back in the early 70s did a version of this, quite nice. It's on youtube if you look for it. This was good. I enjoyed it.
Wow so inspiring!
This is excellent! Just one pedantic point to make though; In the description you referred to Sorley as the Gaelic spelling of Sam. Sorley is actually the Anglicised version of the Gaelic, “Somhairle” which itself is a Gaelic version of the Old Norse “Sumarlidr”, which means Summer Wanderer/Warrior. To be fair though, that’s me being awfy picky, because I thought the film and performance were both outstanding! 😃
I actually have no idea what the Gaelic spelling of Sam is; I'm going on what Sam himself told me, who i'm sure is simplifying his own explanation to the Anglicized version for the sake of simpletons like me. Great background work on the etymology though, I love language.
One of the most beautiful and iconic pieces in bluegrass history.
This isn’t bluegrass.