5,000 red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky New Year's Eve in 2010 in Beebe, Arkansas, four days later another 500 died in Louisiana

Lyrics

4 and 20 Blackbirds by Mary Rocap

4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie
24 red-winged blackbirds taken from the sky
you can beat the bounds with a willow wand and you beat them for the king
beat ‘em high, beat ‘em low – the king thinks he owns everything

the king surveys his holdings and guards his boundaries
he likes to count his money kept in the treasury
while a piper slowly makes his rounds, the earth cries out a joyful sound
wind and water sing along – they’ve been silent far too long

he disregards the beaten bound – he himself’s the whole world round
he knows when a sparrow dies, when a blackbird’s taken from the sky
the piper calls upon the king – the birds sang; weren’t you listening?
now I’ll play a funeral dirge and honor them with solemn words

you may have thought the birds were free but they were a part of me
more valued them your kingdom’s worth, than all that glitters on the earth
but give me a ruby and a pocket a rye and I’ll leave here satisfied
you have reaped what you did not sow; you gather what you do not grow

he looked at the piper poorly dressed thinking he was one processed
sent him off without one cent; the piper bowed and off he went
I’ll take leave of what is yours and play for you a farewell chorus
what is mine will follow me - you’ve made your own choice, wait and see

the piper played a melody which drew the king’s own family
red-winged blackbirds left their nests, joined the procession headed west
the piper will be paid his due and what he says still rings true
hear him pipe at the new moon – the birds sing and they sing his tune

4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie
24 red-winged blackbirds taken from the sky
you can beat the bounds with a willow wand and you beat them for the king
beat ‘em high and beat ‘em low – the king he don’t own anything