Cuckoo Song (from Moonrise Kingdom)

Little sweetheart, there was a wonderful movie a couple of years ago directed by Wes Anderson called “Moonrise Kingdom”. I remember that Sean liked his work so very much but it wasn’t until I saw this film at the time of its release in the cinema that I became so enchanted. 

One of the things that’s most moving about this film is Anderson’s use of the British composer Benjamin Britten’s work. Specially, "Friday Afternoons" - the collection that he wrote for his pupils at the Clive House School. 

One song is used twice to great effect in the film and indeed closes it. As I heard it and with you so very much on my mind, I sat in my sat there in the dark and wept. 

The tune is Britten’s, the words are from a poem by Jane Taylor and the recording he used is sung by a boy soprano in a high, pure, wistful voice. The lyrics make me long just to fly to you, as know I will someday. There are here:

In April, I open my bill
In May, I sing night and day
In June, I change my tune
In July, far, far I fly
In August, away I must.

Soon. To you forever and soon. Cuckoo.