Pretty Bird, by Kathy Mattea

Pretty Bird

by Kathy Mattea

supported by

baa055 I followed Kathy during all of her country music days. This song, Is So much the Kathy that I knew she could be.
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Favorite track: October Song.

donshriner These songs abosrb themselves into my very soul. Pretty Bird is one of the finest studio productions ever by the queen of taste.

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$9 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Hailed by The Washington Post as “one of Nashville's finest song interpreters,”
Kathy Mattea has enjoyed the kind of success many artists only dream of: two
GRAMMY wins, four CMA Awards, four #1 country singles, and five gold albums
(plus a platinum collection of her greatest hits). The dream almost ended,
though, when Mattea entered her 50s and began to find her voice changing.
What followed was a three year journey through life challenges and vocal
glitches that she describes as her “dark night of the soul,” a trying time of
personal anguish and professional uncertainty that threatened to silence her
permanently.
“The hardest thing was facing the question of whether I would still be able to
sing well enough to enjoy it. That was the acid test for me, and I had to be
willing to walk through a process that bumped me up against the very real
possibility that, in the end, the answer might be “No.”
Instead, Mattea dug in with a vocal coach, re-committed to her music, and
emerged with the most poignant album of her career, “Pretty Bird.” Working
with her old friend, music roots wizard Tim O’Brien, producing, “Pretty Bird” is
a chronicle of her journey, song by song, back to singing for the sheer joy of it.
It’s an emotional, moving collection, one that draws its strength not only from
Mattea’s touching performances, but also from her uncanny ability to weave
seemingly disparate material into a cohesive whole. From a playful take on
Oliver Wood’s “Chocolate On My Tongue” to a tender rendition of Mary
Gauthier’s “Mercy Now,” from a British traditional to a Bobbie Gentry classic,
these are the songs that helped Mattea reclaim her voice, and she inhabits
each as fully as if it were her own.
Exquisitely arranged and delivered with the kind of subtlety and nuance that
can only come from a lifetime of heartbreak and triumph, ‘Pretty Bird’ is a
title Kathy Mattea inhabits quite literally, and it’s a welcome reintroduction to
one of country and Americana music’s most enduring and beloved figures.

Includes unlimited streaming of Pretty Bird via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

ships out within 10 days

$15 USD or more

1.	Chocolate On My Tongue 03:48	lyrics	buy track
Sittin’ on the front porch, ice cream in my hand Meltin’ in the sun, all that chocolate on my tongue That’s a pretty good reason to live Pretty good reason to live Sittin’ in the bathtub, hi-fi playin’ low Diggin’ that Al Green, well you must know what I mean That’s a pretty good reason to live Pretty good reason to live If I die young, at least I got some chocolate on my tongue If I die young, at least I got some chocolate on my tongue Sittin’ in the front seat, good boy in my arms Smilin’ in my eyes, and gettin’ me all hypnotized That’s a pretty good reason to live Pretty good reason to live If I die young, at least I got some chocolate on my tongue If I die young, at least I got some chocolate on my tongue If I die young, at least I got some chocolate on my tongue If I die young, at least I got some chocolate on my tongue
2.	Ode To Billie Joe 05:24	lyrics	buy track
It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day I was out choppin' cotton, and my brother was balin' hay And at dinner time we stopped and we walked back to the house to eat And mama hollered out the back door, Y'all, remember to wipe your feet And then she said, I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge Today, Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge Papa said to mama, as he passed around the blackeyed peas Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please There's five more acres in the lower forty I’ve got to plow And mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge And now Billy Joe McAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night? I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know, it don't seem right I saw him at the sawmill yesterday up on Choctaw Ridge And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge Mama said to me, child, what's happened to your appetite? I've been cookin' all morning, and you haven't touched a single bite That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way He said he saw a girl, looked a lot like you, up on Choctaw Ridge And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge Well a year’s come and gone since we heard the news about Billy Joe Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo There was a virus going ‘round, papa caught it and he died last spring And now mama doesn't seem to want to do much of anything And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge And drop ‘em into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge I drop ‘em into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge
3.	Mercy Now 05:27	lyrics	buy track
My father could use a little mercy now  The fruits of his labor fall and rot slowly on the ground  His work is almost over, it won't be long, he won't be around  I love my father, he could use some mercy now My brother could use a little mercy now  He's a stranger to freedom, shackled to his fear and his doubt  The pain that he lives in is almost more than living will allow  I love my brother, he could use some mercy now My church and my country could use a little mercy now  As they sink into a poisoned pit, it's going to take forever to climb out  They carry the weight of the faithful who follow them down  I love my church and country, they could use some mercy now Every living thing could use a little mercy now  Only the hand of grace can end the race towards another mushroom cloud  And the people in power, they'll do anything to keep their crown  I love life, and life itself could use some mercy now Yeah, we all could use a little mercy now  I know we don't deserve it, but we need it anyhow  We hang in the balance, and dangle 'tween hell and hallowed ground  And every single one of us could use some mercy now  Yeah every single one of us could use some mercy now
4.	Little Glass of Wine 04:01	lyrics	buy track
Little glass of wine, it’s a good thing you are here You're warm on my lips, warm as a tear A comfort to the fool who's restless in his mind The lover's trusty potion, you little glass of wine Little glass of wine, you're oil on my flame Shy of the sunlight, hiding your shame And many, many tears, the number is sublime Shall stain a woman's bosom, for a little glass of wine As soon as you learn that you don't live forever You grow fond of the fruit of the vine So here is to you and here is to me And here is to the ones we've left behind Little glass of wine sure makes the party gay It’ll seal a lover's bargain, it’ill chase the blues away So if you're feeling low and you want to rest your mind Well, just run and fetch another little glass of wine Yeah, just run and fetch another little glass of wine
5.	He Moves Though The Fair 03:51	lyrics	buy track
My young love said to me, 'My mother won't mind, And my father won't slight thee for your lack of kine’ * He went away from me and this he did say 'It will not be long, love, till our wedding day’ He went away from me and he moved through the fair And slowly I watched him move here and move there He went his way homeward with one star awake As the swan in the evening moves over the lake The people were saying no two were e'er wed But one has a sorrow that never was said And I smiled as he passed with his goods and his gear And that was the last that I saw of my dear I dreamt last night that my young love came in He came in so sweetly, his feet made no din He stepped up beside me, and this he did say 'It will not be long love, till our wedding day It will not be long love, till our wedding day’ *In old English, “kine” refers to cattle, here referred to in terms of assets for the dowry
6.	St Teresa 04:19	lyrics	buy track
She down on the corner, just a little crime When I make my money, got to get my dime Sit down with her baby, wind is full of trash She bold as the street light, dark and sweet as hash Way down in the hollow, leavin' so soon Oh St. Teresa higher than the moon Reach down for the sweet stuff, when she looks at me I know any man sees you like I see Follow down the side street movin' single file She say, That’s where I'll hold you, sleeping like a child Way down in the hollow, leavin' so soon Oh, St. Teresa, higher than the moon Just what I've been needin', feel it rise in me She say, Every stone a story, like a rosary Way down in the hollow, leavin' so soon Oh, St. Teresa, higher than the moon Are you cold up in the sky Are you cold up in the clouds Is there something you forgot to tell me Tell me Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me Show me my Teresa, feel it rise in me Every stone a story, like a rosary
7.	This Love Will Carry 04:16	lyrics	buy track
It’s a thin line that leads us and keeps us all from shame Dark clouds quickly gather along the way we came There's fear out on the mountain and death out on the plain There's heartbreak and heartache in the shadow of the flame CHORUS This love will carry This love will carry me I know this love will carry me The strongest web will tangle, the sweetest bloom will fall And somewhere in the distance we try and catch it all Success lasts for a moment and failure's always near You look down at your blistered hands as turns another year CHORUS This love will carry This love will carry me I know this love will carry me This love will carry This love will carry me I know this love will carry me So these days are golden, they must not waste away Time is like that flower and soon it will decay And though by storms we're weakened, and uncertainty is sure Like the coming of the dawn it's ours for evermore CHORUS This love will carry This love will carry me I know this love will carry me This love will carry This love will carry me I know this love will carry me This love will carry This love will carry me I know this love will carry me
8.	October Song 03:16	lyrics	buy track
The leaves are falling, silhouetted by the sunset Brushed across a cold October sky The geese are calling, and it's really anyone's guess How long before the snowflakes fly And when I'll be over you, there's just no way to say when Cuz as it is, I still miss you so But I keep praying and waiting for that day when I can finally let you go And when at last I drift asleep, those dreams of you Come back to keep me Wishing I were lying in your arms Those memories of when we made love Are just so hard to let go of Who am I supposed to be When there's so much of you in me Still every morning I keep searching for that sunrise That lets me know this heartache's disappeared But every evening, all I can see is your eyes Reminding me that you're not here Now the leaves are falling and the wind is growing colder The ground will soon be painted white with snow And still I wonder, while bidding farewell to October When I can finally let you go When I can finally let you go
9.	Tell Me What You Ache For 04:02	lyrics	buy track
It doesn't interest me what kind of job you’ve got Where you eat or where you shop The kind of car you drive It doesn't interest me how big a house you own What I really want to know Is what makes you come alive I don't want to talk about How your future's all planned out That isn't what it's all about to me CHORUS Tell me what you ache for Tell me what you wait for Tell me what you long for What you're holding on for Tell me what you're dreaming What would give your life real meaning You've been afraid to pray for Tell me what you ache for It doesn't interest me if your planets are aligned If your signs are well defined And your career is right on track It doesn't interest me If you’re faithful and you're true If you're not true to you Then where's the truth in that I don't want to waste our time Comparing all our stars and signs That's not what makes us shine, to me CHORUS Tell me what you ache for Tell me what you wait for Tell me what you long for What you're holding on for Tell me what you're wishing If there's something that seems missing That somehow you've been saved for Tell me what you ache for BRIDGE It doesn't frighten me, those secrets deep within you I won't walk through fire for you but I'll walk through the fire with you CHORUS So, tell me what you ache for Tell me what you wait for Tell me what you long for What you're holding on for Tell me what you're dreaming What would give your life real meaning That deep down your heart breaks for Tell me what you ache for Tell me what you ache for
10.	Holy Now 04:13	lyrics	buy track
When I was a girl, each week On Sunday, we would go to church And pay attention to the priest And he would read the holy word And consecrate the holy bread And everyone would kneel and bow Today the only difference is Everything is holy now Everything, everything Everything is holy now When I was in Sunday school We would learn about the time Moses split the sea in two Jesus made the water wine And I remember feeling sad That miracles don't happen still But now I can't keep track 'Cause everything's a miracle Everything, Everything Everything's a miracle Wine from water is not so small But an even bigger magic trick Is that anything is here at all So the challenging thing becomes Not to look for miracles But finding where there isn't one When holy water was rare at best It barely wet my fingertips But now I have to hold my breath Like I'm swimming in a sea of it I used to see a world half there Heaven's second rate hand-me-down But I walk it with a reverent air 'Cause everything is holy now Everything, everything Everything is holy now Read a questioning child's face And say it's not a testament That'd be very hard to say See another new morning come And say it's not a sacrament I tell you that it can't be done This morning, outside I stood And saw a little red-winged bird Shining like a burning bush Singing like a scripture verse It made me want to bow my head I remember when church let out How things have changed since then ‘Cause everything is holy now It used to be a world half-there Heaven's second rate hand-me-down But I walk it with a reverent air 'Cause everything is holy now Everything, everything Everything is holy now Everything, everything Everything is holy now Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah holy now Everything is holy now Holy now
11.	I Can't Stand Up Alone 03:44	lyrics	buy track
One of these days I'm gonna take a vacation To a quiet and a peaceful shore And I'll cool my feet in those crystal waters Where I won't have to work anymore 'Cause my burden has got a little heavy Till I can't stand up all alone I must lay my head down on one strong shoulder 'Cause I can't stand up all alone No, you can't stand up all by yourself You can't stand up alone You need the touch of a mighty hand You can't stand up alone 4X And trouble, I have seen trouble All around my door Go away and leave me old man trouble I don't want your trouble any more No, you can't stand up all by yourself You can't stand up alone You need the touch of a mighty hand You can't stand up alone Then a voice came down just like thunder And a light all around me shone It said, Get up child, take hold of my hand You can't stand up all alone Well you can't stand up all by yourself You can't stand up alone You need the touch of a mighty hand You can't stand up alone (INST) Well my burden has gotten so heavy Till I can’t stand up all alone Gonna go and find me one strong shoulder I can’t stand up alone Well, you can't stand up all by yourself You can't stand up alone You need the touch of a mighty hand You can't stand up alone You know you can't stand up all by yourself You can't stand up alone You need the touch of a mighty hand You can't stand up alone You can’t stand up alone You can’t stand up alone You can’t stand up alone
12.	Pretty Bird 03:07	lyrics	buy track
Fly away you little pretty bird Fly fly away Fly away little pretty bird And pretty you’ll always stay I see in your eyes a promise Your own tender love you’d bring But fly away little pretty bird Cold runneth the spring Loves own tender flames warm this meeting And love’s tender songs you’d sing But fly away little pretty bird And pretty you’ll always stay I cannot make you no promises For love is such a delicate thing But fly away little pretty bird For he’d only clip your wings Fly fly away you little pretty bird Fly fly away Fly away little pretty bird And pretty you’ll always stay Fly far beyond the dark mountain To where you’d be free evermore Fly away little pretty bird Where the cold winter winds don’t blow

about

Hailed by The Washington Post as “one of Nashville's finest song interpreters,”Kathy Mattea has enjoyed the kind of success many artists only dream of: two GRAMMY wins, four CMA Awards, four #1 country singles, and five gold albums (plus a platinum collection of her greatest hits). The dream almost ended, though, when Mattea entered her 50s and began to find her voice changing. What followed was a three year journey through life challenges and vocal glitches that she describes as her “dark night of the soul,” a trying time of personal anguish and professional uncertainty that threatened to silence her
permanently. “The hardest thing was facing the question of whether I would still be able to sing well enough to enjoy it. That was the acid test for me, and I had to be willing to walk through a process that bumped me up against the very real possibility that, in the end, the answer might be “No.”

Instead, Mattea dug in with a vocal coach, re-committed to her music, and emerged with the most poignant album of her career, “Pretty Bird.” Working with her old friend, music roots wizard Tim O’Brien, producing, “Pretty Bird” is
a chronicle of her journey, song by song, back to singing for the sheer joy of it. It’s an emotional, moving collection, one that draws its strength not only from Mattea’s touching performances, but also from her uncanny ability to weave seemingly disparate material into a cohesive whole. From a playful take on Oliver Wood’s “Chocolate On My Tongue” to a tender rendition of Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now,” from a British traditional to a Bobbie Gentry classic, these are the songs that helped Mattea reclaim her voice, and she inhabits each as fully as if it were her own.

Exquisitely arranged and delivered with the kind of subtlety and nuance that can only come from a lifetime of heartbreak and triumph, ‘Pretty Bird’ is a title Kathy Mattea inhabits quite literally, and it’s a welcome reintroduction to one of country and Americana music’s most enduring and beloved figures

credits

released September 7, 2018

Produced by Tim O’Brien

Recorded and Mixed by Sean Sullivan at the Butcher Shoppe

Mastered by Eric Conn at Independent Mastering

Engineered by Sean Sullivan

Photography: Reto Sterchi

Package design: Kimberly Levitan

Cover painting: Deborah Denson

license

about

Kathy Mattea Nashville, Tennessee

Twice named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association, Kathy Mattea is among the most successful women in the genre’s history, yet her creative spirit has led her to explore musical territory well beyond its confines. Her recent recordings have intertwined Celtic, gospel, and bluegrass influences with the folk and acoustic music that have served as her artistic anchor. ... more

mattea.com

shows

Apr 27

Grand Ole Opry House

Nashville, TN
May 1

Dakota

Minneapolis, MN
Jun 6

Sellersville Theater

Sellersville, PA

contact / help

Contact Kathy Mattea

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Kathy Mattea, you may also like:

Live @ the Freight
by Cry Cry Cry

supported by 7 fans who also own “Pretty Bird”

I've come to your music a little late, but better late than never! Great songs--even better harmonies <3 . I hope the next time you get together it will be sooner than 20 years! sylvia_s
go to album
Quiet Flame
by Caitlin Canty

supported by 6 fans who also own “Pretty Bird”

Astounding. Artistry, beauty, insight, and depth. If you long for immersive music that fully expresses the human experience, this is it. Samuel Jonasson
go to album
Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2
by Various Artists

supported by 6 fans who also own “Pretty Bird”

So many great performers and you can't beat John Prine's songwriting. This was a surprise candidate for my favorite album of 2021. Jake G
go to album
All New
by Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

The sound of classic country music abounds on the latest from Grammy-winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 31, 2022
go to album
"Dustups"
by Body Surfer

"Dustups" continues Body Surfer’s exploration of intimacy and personal history, rich acoustic folk deep in meaning. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 24, 2021
go to album
Old Habits
by Kat Wallace and David Sasso

This New Haven duo write bright and emotionally resonant folk music where sweeping strings elevate gorgeous melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 23, 2021
go to album
Strays
by Margo Price

supported by 5 fans who also own “Pretty Bird”

Once again women are the driving force in country music. Very creative, melodic stuff. BetoR
go to album