Baby Bird from Witness by Angela Easterling

A few years ago, I went through an incredibly difficult miscarriage at 10 weeks. Only my partner and I knew about it, as we had kept the pregnancy news from our family. It was a shockingly dark and emotional time for which I was completely unprepared. It really did happen, as in the song, in the same week our annual bluebirds and their egg disappeared. I needed to write this song, to share the story of my lost baby bird. Writing this song was a turning point in my grieving process, and really helped my heart begin to heal.

Tracklist

11.	Baby Bird	4:06

Lyrics

BABY BIRD

They build a nest outside our porch,

And come back once a year, or more.

Blue-speckled eggs they leave inside.

Sometimes, there are 3 or 4.

We watch them through the birdhouse door,

Until their mama teaches them to fly.

Fly on, Baby Bird.

There’s new land for you to see.

Your mama gave you all she could and then she set you free...

Fly high upon her love, Baby Bird.

I have my own 2 babies now,

They’re changing every day.

They learn and laugh and grow and run and play.

From the moment that they’re born,

Every step’s a step away.

I’ll hold them closely while I can,

Someday find the will to say -

Fly on, Baby Bird.

There’s new land for you to see.

I’ll give you every thing I can, and then I’ll set you free...

Fly high upon my love, Baby Bird.

This Spring, I peeked in at the eggs, there was just one,

The next day, I looked again, and it was gone,

It was gone.

I lost a baby bird before I ever saw her face,

Just a still and tiny image on a screen.

What a quiet little bird. She slipped away without a trace.

I could not give her what she’d need.

Fly on, Baby Bird.

I don’t know where you might be.

I never held you in my arms, but I still see you in my dreams...

Fly high upon my love, Baby Bird.
Fly high upon my love, Baby Bird.

Credits

from Witness, released October 28, 2022
All songs written by Angela Easterling

©2017-2021 DE L’EST Music (ASCAP)

Except:

Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)

By Woody Guthrie and Martin Hoffman

©1961, 1963 Ludlow Music (BMI)

Produced by Brandon Turner.

Tracks 1, 3, and 10

Recorded at Studio 101, Woodruff, SC

Engineered and mixed by Brad Phillips.

Tracks 2, 4, 8 and 9

Recorded at Southeastern Sound, Campobello, SC

Engineered and mixed by Buddy Strong.

With additional recording at Mill Street Studio, Inman, SC.

Tracks 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12

Recorded at Studio 101, Woodruff, SC

Engineered and mixed by Ian Guthrie.

Additional recording for all tracks at Crooked Floor Studio, Greer, SC

Engineered by Brandon Turner.

Mastered by James DeMain at Yes Master, Nashville, TN.

Musicians:

Brandon Turner: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Lap Steel, Resonator Guitar, Bass (Track 2), Upright Bass (Track 5), Piano, Organ, Banjo, Harmony Vocals.

Don McGraw: Bass

Jeff Hook: Drums and percussion (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12)

Scott Stinson: Drums and percussion (Tracks 3, 5, and 8)

Ted Lucktenberg: Mandolin (Track 5), Cello (Track 11)

David Rice: Fiddle (Track 5)

Fayssoux Starling McLean: Harmony Vocals (Track 5)

Ian Guthrie: Harmony Vocals (Tracks 5, 7, and 12)

Angela: Vocals, Harmony Vocals, and Acoustic Guitar.

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