The Birds Know

“The Birds Know” Album Introduction
“Since I first saw them at MerleFest several years ago, and after we did our first album together, I really wanted us to do a follow-up. These songs were all written just for this album. The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys keep the sound of traditional bluegrass alive, but they really bring it into the present day. I’m so happy with the way this record turned out and I’m looking forward to performing with them in the coming years. I love working with them so much.”

Track-by-Track Commentary

01. Two Crows
“I asked a great singer-songwriter named Adam Wright if he had any lyrics that might fit this album I was getting ready to record with the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, and he gave me ‘Two Crows.’ I loved the way it went down with the band so much; I knew it had to be the first track on the album.”

02. We Look At Things in Different Ways
“This song came through me to speak to these times of divisiveness in our world. It was an important message I wanted to get out: that you can still love somebody even though your views might differ.”

03. Little Bitty Diamonds
“This was the first song written for the album. I was sitting down with my friend Odie Blackmon and this just came out. We thought it would fit well for the upcoming project.”

04. Innocent Heart
“This is a song I wrote the night before going into the studio with the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. I had it tailor-made for them in the Ralph Stanley tradition.”

05. The Birds Know
“I contacted my friend Joe Newberry while I was in the studio and asked him if he had anything started. He sat down and began ‘The Birds Know.’ He mentioned he thought it would be a great album title, and then coincidentally with the other songs referencing birds, I thought, ‘You’re right, Joe.’ Joe is one of my favorite co-writers and such a great artist in his own right.”

06. Don’t Look Down
“This is another song that Adam Wright and I wrote. I felt like it’s still in the traditional bluegrass vein, but there’s a twist to it.”

07. Chuck Wills’ Widow
“The Chuck-will’s-widow is a bird from the Northeast U.S. that has a very distinctive call. My friend Jay Robinson told me of an idea regarding a legend of how the bird got its song, and we went from there.”

08. Life Has a Way of Making Jokes (Don’t It)
“Here is another one that I got to write with the great Adam Wright. I just love his creativity and the way he works.”

09. You Wanted Mountains From Me
“I got together with one of my favorite co-writers, Sarah Douget, and she said she had this title and idea. It just came together very quickly. Sarah is such a tremendous writer; I love writing with her.”

10. You’ll Never Forget Her
“As I drove into the parking lot of Sound Biscuit Studios on our first day of recording, this melody came to me. I was determined to finish this song before we finished tracking, and luckily, my hope materialized.”

11. Rainbow Choo Choo Train
“Sarah Douget told me about this idea several years ago. She said her kids loved the idea for this and loved it when she sang what she had of it to them.”