MovieChat Forums > Magic Stocking (2015) Discussion > It's 'colly birds', hurr-durr.

It's 'colly birds', hurr-durr.


I would think that, as much of a role as they play in the story, that SOMEONE would have advised the writer and actors that the item in the song is 'colly birds', not 'calling birds', and that saying/singing 'four calling birds' is not only completely nonsensical but generally considered to be lazy and ignorant...right up there with asking José if he can see in the beginning of the Star-Spangled Banner. Awesome fumble, Hallmark.

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"Calling birds" is a legitimate variant of the1780 original. There are many variations throughout the song.

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I sang this song as a kid as part of a Christmas program at school. We said "Calling Birds".

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As others have mentioned, since it was written there have been many variations including canary and curley! Additionally there was no music and was a sort of chant. In 1909 the version that is most popular today was penned and set to music so that most of us in the real world now sing the chant instead of speaking it. And use "calling birds".

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Exactly. I've always heard and used calling birds.

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