♫ Blackbird ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under History, music, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

On Wednesday’s ‘good people’ post in conjunction with Black History Month, I shined a light on Daisy Bates, a heroine of the Civil Rights era, the woman who was a big part of helping the Little Rock Nine break down the barriers of segregation in schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The very next day, our friend Keith published a post about this very song by The Beatles’ Paul McCartney, who says the struggles of African-Americans, and particularly the Little Rock Nine, inspired him to write Blackbird.  Somehow, it seemed fitting to redux this one at this time … I hope you’ll agree.

Paul McCartney wrote this about the civil rights struggle for African-Americans after reading about race riots in the US. He penned it in his kitchen in Scotland not long after Little Rock Nine, when the federal courts forced the racial desegregation of the Arkansas capital’s school system.Little Rock Nine“I was sitting around with my acoustic guitar and I’d heard about the civil rights troubles that were happening in the ’60s in Alabama, Mississippi, Little Rock in particular,” he told GQ. “I just thought it would be really good if I could write something that if it ever reached any of the people going through those problems, it might give them a little bit of hope. So, I wrote ‘Blackbird.'”

McCartney-meets-little-rock-nine-2

McCartney with two of the Little Rock Nine

Blackbird
Paul McCartney

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Black-bird fly
Black-bird fly, into the light of a dark black night

Black-bird fly
Black-bird fly, into the light of a dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise
you were only waiting for this moment to arise
you were only waiting for this moment to arise

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Blackbird lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

33 thoughts on “♫ Blackbird ♫ (Redux)”

    • I agree it is one of his best, and my other favourite is the one he does with Stevie Wonder, “Ebony and Ivory”. Doesn’t have to be a protest song to send a strong message.

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          • But of course. As do I. Though bluegrass, opera or operetta, most modern country&western, and disco I would not miss if they weren’t around. Still, I’m sure you have your preferences, soul, blues, ballads, soft rock, etc. My number one preference is 60s psychedelic acid rock, followed by blues/rock, folk, and motown, many of which feature protest songs. Love songs are okay, but I put life before love. And now you know me even better.

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            • I share your feelings about those genres … I don’t listen to bluegrass, most country, or opera at all, and am not even sure what disco is. You typically go in for heavier music than I do … I never could stand acid rock or even hard rock, but we do share a love of Motown.

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  10. Happy Siberian Saturday, Jill! :-)) Thank you for sharing this great song. But isnt it a shame how long this one is now out, and how less had taken place changing the situations? Have a beautiful weekend! Lets hope temperature and personal mood will increase to normal, next week! Michael

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    • It does, indeed, feel like a Siberian Saturday! Grey, dreary, and c-c-cold! We’re supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow on Monday-Tuesday. I’m ready for SPRING! Yes, it is a tragedy that not much has changed in over 50 years, that we are still very much a bigoted, racist nation. And, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the Senate has voted to acquit Trump, so my mood is as bleak as the weather outdoors. Ah well, at least it’s the weekend. Have a good one, Michael!

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      • Thank you, Jill! Sounds a little bit more sad. Dont regret too much. Europe is at least the same, but we have a much more active Roman-Catholic Church rolling the drums for us. Lol (sarcasm out). 😉 Have a beautiful weekend! Michael

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        • Yes, a bit sad, a bit frustrated, a lot angry. Ah well. You can keep the Roman-Catholic Church over there … we have enough grief here with the evangelical ‘Christians’ who would like to shove their narrow-minded, bigoted ideas on us all. Weekend is almost over, but it was a nice, relaxing one.

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