Redbird

by Meghan Maike

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"This is a song about my friend Jimmy. I could tell you all about his life, but listing facts wouldn’t do him justice, so I wrote a song about him instead.
He liked living outdoors, and didn’t like riding in cars, so when we’d go for lunch at the Mexican restaurant in town it had to be by bicycle, which suited me just fine. As he didn’t have a phone, our plans were made in person, in advance, which is such a novel concept these days. At the prearranged time, he’d be waiting on the bench under the fig tree outside my work in rural Mississippi. We’d ride along the country roads - him puffing away on his tobacco pipe. After a couple of beers at lunch, we’d head home a little giddy, and pass the pipe back and forth between us as we rode. That shit ain’t for the faint of heart!
He’d tell me stories as we rode, of growing up in Clarksdale in the 60s, how his dad was a crop duster, how he used to pick Conway Twitty up from the local airport when he’d come to town to visit his restaurant, Conway’s, on Moon Lake, or about the years living in a commune in Tennessee.
Winters are surprisingly biting in northwest Mississippi, as the wind rips across the delta. As Jimmy was not a fan of the cold, as soon as the air got crisp in autumn, he’d head south to Mobile, Alabama - by kayak. Sunflower River, to the Pearl, and along the Gulf, taking about six weeks. Once the winds turned warm in spring, we’d all start to get excited - Jimmy would be home soon! Never quite knew when, but sure as the seasons, he’d show up one day, and off we’d ride to lunch.
He had kind eyes and a really soothing presence. Even though he passed on, he still holds a very real place among those who knew him. While I’m not there to swap stories about him with friends, I sing this song for him - it keeps him around."

lyrics

Summertime finds him in the big fig tree
Listening to the wind for a melody
Redbird, redbird
Or sitting by the river at the water’s edge
Looking at the fishes til it’s time for bed
Redbird, redbird
It was a simple life for a man, indeed,
But peaceful was the way that he wanted to be
Redbird, redbird, goodbye redbird

Cold weather had him heading south for the winter
To find himself a warmer shelter,
Redbird, redbird
Watching the colour of the changing leaves
Relying on the wisdom of the trees
Redbird, redbird
We never knew for sure how long he’d be gone
Cause a traveling man must be moving on
Redbird, redbird, goodbye redbird

Springtime a’coming, bring our redbird home
Guided by the arrow pointed north
Redbird, redbird
He’s following the river instead of the road
It might take him longer but he’s coming home
Redbird, redbird
We know he’s close, we know he’s near
And everything’s better with our redbird here
Redbird, redbird, goodbye redbird

Time rollin’, and seasons will change, again
Where is the start, or the end

Our redbird Jimmy liked to take it slow,
Pipe lit up and his radio on low
His time has come to go away
You can’t make a redbird stay
Redbird, redbird
He’s gone to ride the wind and fly
To take his place up in the sky
Redbird, redbird, goodbye redbird
Goodbye redbird

credits

released May 11, 2023
Words and music by Meghan Maike

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Cheersquad Records & Tapes Melbourne, Australia

Wally “Meanie” Kempton took the plunge in 2018 and launched his record label Cheersquad Records & Tapes. Since then he has released new material from acts such as The Meanies, The Hard-Ons, Chris Wilson, Phil Jamieson, Seasick Steve, Wanita, Minibikes, The Rinehearts, Immigrant Union and T. Wilds, along with limited edition vinyl of older material from Snout, Even and The Glory Box and more. ... more

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