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Judy Collins - Bird On The Wire [HD]

1,567 views · Published 4 July 2017 · 4:40 · Indexed 28 October 2026

Channel: Gary Larson · 2017 · People & Blogs

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Judy Collins sings 'Bird On The Wire' from her 1968 Elektra album 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes'. The song was written by Leonard Cohen who recorded it in September of 1968 for his 1969 album 'Songs From A Room'. So Collins' version was the first one released. On the album Judy Collins does vocals, guitar, piano with the following musicians: Buddy Emmons – pedal steel guitar, James Burton – Dobro, electric guitar, Chris Ethridge – bass, Jim Gordon – drums, percussion, Michael Melvoin – piano, Van Dyke Parks – piano, electric piano, Michael Sahl – organ, piano, harpsichord, keyboards and Stephen Stills - guitar and bass. The lyrics are in the video and listed below.

Cohen started writing the song on the Greek island Hydra where he was inspired by seeing a bird sitting on a recently installed telephone line. Later album notes referred to the song as "simultaneously a prayer and an anthem, a kind of bohemian 'My Way'." Cohen called it a "simple country song" and Judy Collins first recording of it has a country sound.

Since there are many birds in this video, no cats were included. However, the next Joan Baez song video will definitely have some cats.

[Vinyl/Lyrics/23-Images]


Bird On The Wire (Judy Collins Version)

Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.

Like a worm on the hook,
Like a knight in an old-fashioned book
I've saved all my ribbons for thee.

And if I, if I've been unkind,
I hope that you, you just let it go by.

And if I, if I've been untrue
I hope you know that it was not you.

Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.

But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
That I will, I will make it all, all up to thee.

I saw a man, a beggar leaning on his crutch,
He said to me, "Why do you ask for so much?"

There was a  woman, a woman leaning in her door,
She said, "Why not, why not, why not, why not ask for more?"

Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.

Songwriter: Leonard Cohen

© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

[Lyrics adapted from LyricFind]

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