The Cuckoo
tune - Shanagolden

The cuckoo comes in April he sings his song in May
But singing through the wee small hours I hasten him away
I dread his early morning song I listen with dismay
I lie awake thereafter my sleep in disarray.

I pull the covers o’er my head to muffle out the sound
The cuckoo makes a mock of me as I toss and turn around
I plug my ears with cotton wool but all to no avail
The cuckoo boldly singing, his music does prevail.

Out of bed reluctantly the window for to close
I clap my hands repeatedly his chorus I oppose
For a while all peaceful, my actions I defend
But soon the calm is shattered I’m now at my wits end.

I stumble out of bed again and don my dressing gown
I pour myself a ‘tonic’ on this my wife does frown
As I sat a pondering some words just came along
My grievance with the cuckoo I’ll now put into song.

The dawn fast approaching my story near complete
The cuckoo still cuckooing some words I’ll not repeat
Gracefully accept defeat submit to natures way
Resigned to sleep disruption - in July he flies away.

Cuckoos are about the size of a collared dove. They are scarce summer visitors and usually arrive in April. Their easily recognisable call announces that spring has arrived.

However, they do not build their own nest but find nests of smaller birds in which to lay their egg. In Scotland the meadow pipit becomes the host or foster carer. The baby cuckoo pushes the other eggs out of the nest leaving the parent meadow pipit to make sure its fed. The adult cuckoo leave for Africa by June or July almost as soon as their eggs have been laid. The young birds will follow them in the Autumn.

The cuckoo was particularly active when this song was composed in 2018.