Little Birdie
(Traditional lyrics & melody, translated into Chinese by A.Washburn, arr by D.Liang & A.Washburn)

Intro passage by relocated Guangji Kindergarten Class in Luoshui, Sichuan
Student sounds & voices from relocated Wenchuan Shuimou Middle School
Spoken word performed by sisters Garang & Lalang Zuo

Abigail Washburn has taught this translation of the traditional American folk song to many audiences throughout China over the past six years. Last December she taught it to the Guangji Kindergarten as a part of a performance connected to a Sichuan Quake Relief investigatory mission to learn about the needs of the school and how they could help. After that visit, the Kindergarten integrated Little Birdie into their song repertoire and performed it every time SQR volunteers came by with supplies. The beginning of the track is a recording of the Guangji Kindergarten singing to the accompaniment of an old pump organ. Thanks to Peter Goff, president of SQR, for taking the recorder with him to the school to capture this recording!

The main body of the song incorporates sounds recorded in the classrooms and on the playground. You can hear the 8th grade art class singing "Little Birdie" here. The spirit of this song is to represent the communal way of the students’ "displaced" lives, as is clear in the words read from a banner hanging above the playground throughout the song: “Hand in hand, hearts connected, we are all one heart, one love, one family.”

Handwritten Lyrics (click to view)

小小鸟儿，小小鸟儿
xiao xaio niao’er, xiao xiao niao’er
我在这儿的时间不长
wo zai zher de shijian bu chang
请你为我唱支小调
qing ni wei wo chang zhi xiao diao
我一去就不再来
wo yi qu jiu bu zai lai

Little birdie, little birdie
Come and sing to me your song
I got a short time to stay here
And a long time to be gone

Spoken Word:
手手相牵
shou shou xiang qian
心心相连
xinxin xiang lian
我们都是相亲相爱一家人
women dou shi xiang qin xiang ai yi jiaren

“Hand in hand, hearts connected, we are all one heart, one love, one family”

Little Birdie Field Recording (click to view)