♫ Blackbird ♫ (Redux)

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

I seem to post this one about once a year, probably because I love the song, and because of the deeper meaning of the song.  But this year, I am adding a video by Paul McCartney that I came across and found fascinating.  He talks about the origins of the song, how it all started with a bit of Bach, believe it or not, and he even includes a short clip by David Crosby telling how Crosby, Stills and Nash came to do a version of Blackbird!  I hope you’ll enjoy seeing Paul McCartney give us extra info about the song and how it came to be!

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

24 thoughts on “♫ Blackbird ♫ (Redux)”

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  5. I’ve always loved this song, ever since I got the White Album as a Christmas present shortly after it was released. That first video is fascinating. I’m a big CSN&Y fan and never knew they did a cover of it! You may not know it, but the Bach tune that Paul was playing and quoted as the inspiration for Blackbird became a track on Jethro Tull’s second album, Stand Up. It’s called Bourée, and it’s rather nice 😊

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    • I’m not often surprised when you haven’t heard a song I play, but this one does rather surprise me, for it’s by a guy from your side of the pond! It is a wonderful song, though … I love the tune, but also the meaning behind the lyrics. Have a great week ahead, Michael! xx

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