This is the seventh track from Deep Purple's third and eponymous album, Deep Purple (1969).
Lineup (Mk I): Ritchie Blackmore: guitar, Rod Evans: lead vocals, Nick Simper: bass guitar and backing vocals, Jon Lord: Hammond organ, keyboards, and backing vocals, Ian Paice: drums
Lyrics:
Oh the beggar on his cornerstone
Catches pity in his wrinkled hand
But the lover whose bird has flown
Catches nothing only grains of sand
All the children in the distant house
They have feelings only children know
But the lover whose bird has flown
Catches nothing only flakes of snow
The sensation is not new to you
It's something we all have known
You get it - it goes right through you
Yes it's something we all have known
And the bird it has flown
To a place on it's own
Somewhere all alone
Now the hermit in his lonely cave
Has himself to keep him company
But the lover whose bird has flown
He has heartaches same as you and me
The sensation's not new to you
It's something we all have known
You get it - it goes right through you
Yes it's something we all have known
And the bird it has flown
Now the hermit in his lonely cave
Has himself to keep him company
But the lover whose bird has flown
He has heartaches same as you and me
Oh it's started snowing