there was a house half way 'round the world
and I was invited in for a small taste of gin
there was a hallway a thousand birds long
but the biggest one of all was in a cage too small
I asked the care taker 'cause he was a maker
looked at me and laughed, took another sip from his glass
he said open up your ears and hearts
you put a big bird in a small cage
and he'll sing you a song
that we all love to sing along
to the sound of the bird that mourns
well we rolled into town in the sweet new orleans
to the Apple Barrel Bar it was a hole in the wall
the ceiling's weren't tall, the floors were the ground
but the sound that you make would just warm your hearts
well it was quarter to twelve and the boys walked in
they got their black suits on and the songs would begin
you open up your ears and hearts
you put a big bird in a small cage
and he'll sing you a song
that we all love to sing along
to the sound of the bird that mourns