When I do kids shows, I put down my guitar for this song and pick up a bird puppet who acts out the song while a backing CD accompanies me. At the end, kids are always eager to suggest new names for the now-reformed Teasing Bird. "Happy Bird" and "Nice Bird" generally get the most votes, but I've also heard nominations like "Frank" and "Smiley".
lyrics
The Teasing Bird would fly around
above the playground, shouting down
"You're too fat!" "You're too thin!"
"You talk funny!""What's wrong with your skin?"
The Teasing Bird would flap his wings
while he said the meanest things
"You've got glasses!" "What a big nose!"
"You're not cool!" "You've got old clothes!"
But all those ugly words he tossed around
Well, they began to slowly weigh him down
The Teasing Bird
Made people hurt
Made people cry
Until the day he found
He could no longer fly
No longer fly
Have you ever seen a grown bird cry?
Spoken:
See, the Teasing Bird? He wasn't very happy.
And he thought, maybe if he made other people unhappy, he'd start feeling better.
But you know what? It doesn't work that way.
The way to be happy is to make other people happy.
Ane the Teasing Bird? He just felt worse and worse and worse...
The Teasing Bird had to walk
to that playground, sixteen blocks! (What a ridiculous way to travel!)
He saw the look in people's eyes
as he prepared to apologize
“I know how awful I must seem
But I thought being unhappy was what made me mean. (Not so, apparently…)
Turns out, being mean is what made me unhappy
What I’m about to say might sound sappy, but…
I'm really sorry for the things I've said
From now on I'll say nicer things instead.”
A happy bird
Says happy words
Sings happy songs
And all the happy people get to sing along
Sing along, sing along, sing along
"You have a great smile!" "You're so nice."
"You're really strong!" "Beautiful bike!"
"Pretty shoes!" "Lovely hair!"
"Hey, look what's happening! I'm in the air!"
The Teasing Bird bird flew around
to every playground that he found
"Great catch!" "Nice throw!" "You sure run fast!"
"Wow, way to go!"
A happy bird
Says happy words
Sings happy songs
And all the happy people get to sing along
Sing along, sing along, sing along
credits
from You can be part of a miracle.,
track released December 4, 2009
Ira Marlowe: vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass
Paul Revelli: drums
Megan Smith: backing vocals
The Birdie Girls: backing vocals
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