Bye Bye Bird/Mr Downchild THE YARDBIRDS with SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (1963)

IN 1963 Chicago bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson toured Europe, backed up by a recently formed band called the Yardbirds.  The performances were not released until early 1966, after a string of Top 40 hits by the Yardbirds. This was the first incarnation of the legendary group, featuring Eric Clapton on guitar. 

Here they are live, recorded at the famed Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, Surry, UK on Dec 8, 1963, Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds.

BYE BYE BIRD

Yeah, we know these sounds
These sounds belong to one man
One man from Mississippi, USA
One man known as the wizard of the harp
One man known as the menace
And his name is Sonny Boy Williamson

Bye bye bird
Bye bye bird
Bye bye bird
Bye bye bird
Bye bye bird, I'm gone

Bird, I'm gone
Bird, I'm gone
Bird, I'm gone
Bird, I'm gone
I'm gone, (child, you find?)
(Back home?)

---

MR DOWNCHILD

Listen downchild
Please take a fool's advice
Listen downchild
Please take a fool's advice

Don't newer let no one woman
Man misuse you twice time she smiles
Says she don't love no one but you
Everytime she smiles
Says, she don't love no one but you

Everytime she smiles
Says, she don't love no one but you
You better watch out buddy boy, little girl
Love to drop a chunk on you

I tried so hard to not even think about my past life
I tried so hard even think about my past life
Because I don't want to ever ever make a mistake in life

Baby, I and you could be so happy
We can be so lovin' tonight
From now on darling
Yeah, We can be so happy be so lovey from now on
From now on
Because if I ever make a mistake in life
I know I'd ruin my happy home.

The Crawdaddy Club opened in 1963 with The Rolling Stones as the first house band. The Yardbirds were second.

“The past is a blast.”