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Bitter Little Bird Lyrics

I will change
I will transform
I will turn myself
Into a bitter bird

Bitter will I fly
Into your garden
And bitter will I sing
By the lilac tree

I will change
I will transform
Don't shoot me down
This bitter bird

Bitter will I fly
In through your window
And bitter stories will I
To your sister tell

Oh bitter sister tell
What are your sorrows
And ask of us of ours
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Cover art for Bitter Little Bird lyrics by PJ Harvey

"It's a happy little number."

First thing she wrote on piano.

:)

Cover art for Bitter Little Bird lyrics by PJ Harvey

I thought the lyrics were;

I will change I will transform I will turn myself Into a bitter bird

Bitter will I fly Into your garden Bitter will I sing By the lilac tree

I will change I will transform Don't shoot me down This bitter bird

Bitter will I fly In through your window And bitter stories will I To your sister tell

Oh bitter sister tell What are your sorrows And ask of us of ours

...I happened to do some double checking and I found that these lyrics are adapted from a Russian folk song from the book Russian Folk Lyrics Translated and Edited by Roberta Reeder;

I will change-transform myself into a bitter little bird, Bitter will I fly to mama's garden, Bitter will I sit on the sweet apple tree; ... My oldest brother will say: "Let's shoot it!" ... Come bitter sister, up to our high tower. Tell us about your sorrow, ask us about ours

https://books.google.com/books?id=1qJCfA4q_tgC&pg=PA181&dq=russian+folk+lyrics&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAGoVChMIj-HJhOfqyAIVzEgmCh3GAwmJ#v=onepage&q=russian%20folk%20lyrics&f=false

Also, I have a tattoo of the title of this song and birds that Polly drew on my chest... I hope I have not misheard the lyrics all this time!

 
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