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The Beatles — Blackbird
Album: White Album
Avg rating:
8.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2523









Released: 1968
Length: 2:16
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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

Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light of the 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
Comments (134)add comment
 h_in_bristol wrote:


Very annoying indeed.


being slightly off time, especially
11
One of my favourite songs ever
I still am amazed by the variety of songs that they created. A lot to do with the producer as well.
 mdnlsn wrote:

Had never listened to this on headphones before. That tap/clap sticks out like a click track in my ear. Really takes away from the song



Very annoying indeed.
Macca at his best: simple, melodic, powerful. The Civil Rights Movement appreciated his support.
I will always love this song....

its symbolism...
its place in music history...
its place in my heart

So very fortunate to have lived to hear and experience these fellas -- as a group and as solo artists.

And of all the words available to me to describe Beatledom.... the only one I firmly land on is: Ineffable.
 buddy wrote:

The first song I ever learned on acoustic guitar.



Not just the first song for me, but my #1 inspiration for learning in the first place!
His cover by jon batiste is just mesmerizing 
blackbird
 scrubbrush wrote:

As far as double studio albums from great bands go, I have to say that I rank this album just below:
1. The Rolling Stone - Exile on Main Street
2. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
3. The Clash - London Calling


Beatles White is numero uno in my not so humble opinion.
EJ's Yellow Brick Road also come to mind . . .
Me watching this year's Glastonbury where Paul McCartney performed this and partner says "I thought this was just a lullaby from the Boss Baby movie - didn't know it was a Beatles song..." ๐Ÿคจ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ˜”๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ˜
 scrubbrush wrote:

As far as double studio albums from great bands go, I have to say that I rank this album just below:
1. The Rolling Stone - Exile on Main Street
2. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
3. The Clash - London Calling


It's better than all those combined.
 mdnlsn wrote:

Had never listened to this on headphones before. That tap/clap sticks out like a click track in my ear. Really takes away from the song




I agree! Still a GREAT SONG!!
 kingart wrote:

{#Cheers} NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE LEMONHEAD. {#Pray}


Piss off Lemonhead
Had never listened to this on headphones before. That tap/clap sticks out like a click track in my ear. Really takes away from the song
A beautiful little titty....oops Love it
As far as double studio albums from great bands go, I have to say that I rank this album just below:
1. The Rolling Stone - Exile on Main Street
2. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
3. The Clash - London Calling
 buddy wrote:
The first song I ever learned on acoustic guitar.
 
You could've done worse. 
This is probably somewhere way down in the comments, but if you haven't seen this guy sing Blackbird to his new (and shortly lived) son in the hospital, and you're ready for tears, try this:

https://www.today.com/parents/dad-sings-blackbird-dying-baby-son-heartbreaking-youtube-video-1D80287465
 mgtom wrote:
One of Paul's many amazing little ditties.  Simple. Clean. Fun. 

Sing along! 
 Well said!  

This song is very relevant to current circumstances worldwide.  Paul explained (in a concert I saw) that he wrote this song about those struggling for equal rights at the time.
 kingart wrote:

{#Cheers} NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE LEMONHEAD. {#Pray}
 

NOOOOOOOOOO MORE LEMON PARADE. Really, no more please Bill. 
Awesome!
I love this song, but listening to this version through headphones is challenging because my left year only hears the click and vocals and my right ear hears the guitar. Not sure why The Beatles recorded their songs by separating the instruments on L/R channels like that, but it makes listening to some of their songs through headphones not ideal.
 Lemonhead wrote:
{#Fire}NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE BEATLES{#Fire}
 
Was never going to happen after JL's murder! But, thanks to their legacy, there's still plenty of airplay to keep us going!
Thinking about this song and "Mother Nature's Son" and "Yesterday" all week.

Marveling how a bass player/pianist composed and performed such challenging and interesting guitar pieces. 
Who did the birds on this song
One of Paul's many amazing little ditties.  Simple. Clean. Fun. 

Sing along! 
 junebaby65 wrote:


I love when people comment that they don't like the Beatles.  It drives RP listeners into a tizzy.  Lol.  I do enjoy them, but as I've said over and over: We all have different tastes, and maybe, just maybe,  in this world of about 6 billion people, there are some who can't stand the Beatles!!!
 
Hum, let me think......... it's not possible, i have to have faith in humanity :)
 Dazzerb wrote:
The Beatles hurt my ears,their music really annoys me but this tune I quite like. 
 

I love when people comment that they don't like the Beatles.  It drives RP listeners into a tizzy.  Lol.  I do enjoy them, but as I've said over and over: We all have different tastes, and maybe, just maybe,  in this world of about 6 billion people, there are some who can't stand the Beatles!!!
A real pleasure !
 Lemonhead wrote:
{#Fire}NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE BEATLES{#Fire}

 
{#Cheers} NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE LEMONHEAD. {#Pray}
 buddy wrote:
The first song I ever learned on acoustic guitar.

 
Holy shite, are you kidding? I learned it but recently and nearly broke my fingers on the try.
Nice song I like the Beatles still after many years.{#Guitarist}
So beautiful
Another song where it is impossible to tell if it is really that good, or does it just seem that way because of all the good feelings that come with it.  I suppose it could be argued there is no difference.
 buddy wrote:
The first song I ever learned on acoustic guitar.
 
There are a few reasons why LOTS of people learn this early in their guitar careers.  The chord progression isn't hard, and if you can sing while you play .... well, you're as good as Paul McCartney!
 Dazzerb wrote:
The Beatles hurt my ears,their music really annoys me but this tune I quite like. 

 
finally there is hope for everyone
The Beatles hurt my ears,their music really annoys me but this tune I quite like. 
The first song I ever learned on acoustic guitar.
 Ostar wrote:

Today again! Right after Fly. Is this a recycled playlist or what?
 
Ostar, you've been around since 2006 and you haven't yet figured out how RP playlists are crafted and programmed? The DJ doesn't work 24 hours a day, and the lists are not random. The carefully sequenced sets of songs do tend to evolve over time, though.
Dead bird singing in the black of night....
{#Fire}NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE BEATLES{#Fire}
Perfect.. perfect....
Had yet to hear Nick Drake's Fly
and had the volume up, the lyrics too....
when it ended .. didn't miss a beat
and ....  the 'Into the light of the dark black night'
with the Beatles... Blackbird

Perfect.... oohooh so wonderful

Radio Paradise.. a mini-event within a few songs...
building and growing..  linked around a theme, a thought, a pause....
Thank you
and while writing this,  slipping into Lullaby by  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
You are the quiet in my soul 
You are the pieces of gold 
Won't you shine 


Thank you Radio Paradise.....
a blessing in my life
 
 rdo wrote:
Today this comes after Nick Drake's Fly....this is not a good transition for me...I think ND is much better than the Beatles
 
Today again! Right after Fly. Is this a recycled playlist or what?
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of homeless camps loves this song soooo much, which is from a wonderful double album, except for the "Revolution 9" avant-garde LSD flashback...
Gotta bump this gem: 9 > 10
olsaltybastard wrote:
I think I like this because I haven't heard it 1000 times. In fact, I have never heard it. It lacks the teeny boppper tinge that most Beatles songs tend to have (the ones I have heard anyways.)
 

You are confusing The Beatles with The Bay City Rollers, obviously.  Chalk and cheese.
It's a great lullaby for little ones to go to sleep by; used it 34 yrs ago on oldest and now her 6 yr son, every night, by his request.
Definitely one of my all-time favorite acoustic tunes. Just gorgeous.
8.9? Average score? Ok...it's Beatles...it's good...but c'mon...not sure about such a high score. Oh well...where's my tune right? Bring it on, folks.
Today this comes after Nick Drake's Fly....this is not a good transition for me...I think ND is much better than the Beatles
way overated !
It's pretty mind blowing thinking about Paul just noodling away on his guitar and coming up with this. Man, I wish I could do that...
cordelia wrote:
i like this song, but i heard howard stern sing it once and now when i hear it, i can't shake the sound of stern singing it...
I always think of "ER" when I hear this. There was an episode from way back involving Sherry Stringfield's character, her sister on the show, and a lost baby. I don't remember the particulars of the story, but I remember them singing the song to get past the hurt. Howard Stern singing this song must be one of the seven signs of the apocalypse.
Loonytunas wrote:
I so tired of hearing the Beatles, let them go.
no shit! x100930302843
God damn I still love this song. Timelessssssssssssss......................
beeeeeeuuuuuuuteeeful
i like this song, but i heard howard stern sing it once and now when i hear it, i can't shake the sound of stern singing it...
I so tired of hearing the Beatles, let them go.
hippiechick wrote:
You are so off about the meaning of that song. Anyway, this is one of the few of Paul's songs that I actually like.
I'm sure you can reference the theology to back your statement.
pinto wrote:
If I were into atheism and Communism, then, yeah, I'd like the lyrics to "Imagine" also.
You are so off about the meaning of that song. Anyway, this is one of the few of Paul's songs that I actually like.
texastimr wrote:
This is one of the first songs I taught myself on guitar. Great song.
Cheers to you. I still can't pick this one. Pretty complicated for your first, IMHO.
dmax wrote:
Hey, Bill - you could play this backed with Kate Bush's "Aerial" with her laughing birds and really drive people nuts.
Plus "Birds" by Quasi (the one from "Featuring 'Birds' ", as opposed to "Birds" by Quasi, from "Field Studies". Details, details.)
Anyone ever listen to this cut back-to-back with the song "Blackbird", by Wings (from the "Band On The Run" album)? I detect a similarity . . . which one's better?
GChevy410 wrote:
man I think it sucks that this is the original, because there are much better versions out there (thinking Monte Montgomery, and since theirs are not the originals it takes away from their rating
HUH?
all my love to paul..... even in this sad morning his voice and this song can bring me to good places...
man I think it sucks that this is the original, because there are much better versions out there (thinking Monte Montgomery, and since theirs are not the originals it takes away from their rating
Beautiful.
TheLoneIguana wrote:
This is one of the songs that makes me wish I could play guitar.
This is one of the first songs I taught myself on guitar. Great song.
pinto wrote:
If I were into atheism and Communism, then, yeah, I'd like the lyrics to "Imagine" also.
Well said!! BTW. That chirping that seems to annoy some listeners is in fact an English blackbird. ( Sorry, but I don't remember his full name )
pianocomposer wrote:
This is my favorite Beatles song because it is art and it is pop and it's the emergence of Paul as a songwriter in his own right. (My favorite song by John was written years later. It is called "Imagine" and has the best lyrics of any pop song in the English language.)
If I were into atheism and Communism, then, yeah, I'd like the lyrics to "Imagine" also.
Solid 9... at 1:30, CST ,3/15/06.
This is one of the songs that makes me wish I could play guitar.
Inspiration at its highest point. Love it dearly, and brightens the day considerably. Thank you.
YES!!
still, deep in work I had to stop and go ahhhhh. Great song and counterproductive to work, back to the land of grown ups.
Great song, but so overplayed . . . For a while, in my place of worship, I had to hear it almost every week. It was not played well either. I think if you are going to perform this song, you need to either be the Beatles or do it silently.
yep..... my favorite Beatles cut....
olsaltybastard wrote:
I think I like this because I haven't heard it 1000 times. In fact, I have never heard it. It lacks the teeny boppper tinge that most Beatles songs tend to have (the ones I have heard anyways.)
Teeny bopper tinge? What albums have you heard? Rubber Soul? Let It Be? C'mon man.
pianocomposer wrote:
This is my favorite Beatles song because it is art and it is pop and it's the emergence of Paul as a songwriter in his own right. (My favorite song by John was written years later. It is called "Imagine" and has the best lyrics of any pop song in the English language.)
What, you know some songs in another language with better lyrics than Imagine....translate please!
This is my favorite Beatles song because it is art and it is pop and it's the emergence of Paul as a songwriter in his own right. (My favorite song by John was written years later. It is called "Imagine" and has the best lyrics of any pop song in the English language.)
jeremyleo wrote:
Godlike. Period.
My sentiments exactly.
I think I like this because I haven't heard it 1000 times. In fact, I have never heard it. It lacks the teeny boppper tinge that most Beatles songs tend to have (the ones I have heard anyways.)
I read somewhere that this song is actually about black slavery and the underground railroad. And if you read this (click here) it talks about "blackbird" slave hunters. You have to love the Beatles.
federico wrote:
Have you noticed? One of the things that sets the truly great apart in music is the sheer quantity of excellent pieces they create. The catalogue of the Betales, the Stones, Dylan is full of songs unknown to the general public that would be considered the top achievement of many other artists. And I think the same holds for Ellington, Count Basie, but also Mozart, Beethoven ... What do you think?
Um, what if they die young? Or break up early? Aside from that, your comment is basically a tautology. How are you deciding who is great? If you're saying that the Stone Roses aren't as great as the Stones because they only had one or two great albums, then, um, yeah, what distinguishes "great" from "not great" is, indeed, their volume.
Have you noticed? One of the things that sets the truly great apart in music is the sheer quantity of excellent pieces they create. The catalogue of the Betales, the Stones, Dylan is full of songs unknown to the general public that would be considered the top achievement of many other artists. And I think the same holds for Ellington, Count Basie, but also Mozart, Beethoven ... What do you think?
Indubitably.
this is a beautiful song, but i could really do without the tweeting and chirping.
A naturally pure song filled with grace, that's the only way I can describe it... :sunny.gif:
gotta be a 10. a perfect song
shevek wrote:
A 10. What more can I say?
That chirping bird in the background continually drives me fruit! Otherwise pleasant. Never been a big Beatles fan.
:daisy.gif: :daisy.gif: :daisy.gif:
One more near perfect song from a near perfect group. Sooooooooo good..........
This song can melt the stress right out of my day. I have this song loaded on a "favorites to relax by" CD in my car and listen to it a couple of times a week during my ride home.
rascal420 wrote:
Which album is this from? It's not on Abbey Road.
The Beatles (White album)
A 10. What more can I say?
OOOOOHHH.... How I love this song. I *must* play it twice through each time. It's such a multi-dimensional song ... almost folk, almost Celtic hymn, beautiful lyric ballad, when you feel down, upset -- it's the most uplifting "blues" song EVER.
Anyone ever heard the Jaco cover?
Which album is this from? It's not on Abbey Road.
As much as I love the original, I must say that Crowsby Stills and Nash version is just as good. The harmonies there, are perfect.
one of their best - like the rythm section
Great song, but did you ever realize how short it is?
Franlrc wrote:
Is it me or is this distorted like an audiotape left out in the sun?
Must be you - but it seems that I recall that this tune was recorded in Paul's home studio so maybe you're hearing something real. Of course, this could easily be faulty memory on my part.
Godlike. Period.
It's fun to listen to this and "Imagine" and hear the difference between a quiet song written by McCartney and Lennon. Gotta be honest McCartney takes the cake here.
Is it me or is this distorted like an audiotape left out in the sun?
I love this song. My son knew all the words to this when he was three- but that is nothing, there is a five year old guitar prodigy kid in this area that can play & sing this note for note. No Bull! Check out the link https://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-04/11-02-04/b01li749.htm
The greatest finger-picking tune ever!
this song is a "special union" song between my daughter and me....she learned this melody and lyrics VERY early.....and she will never forget them as a result!! :daisy.gif: :daisy.gif:
What kind of idiot would give this song a one? The differnce between this song is and many others found on paradise is that it is over 30 years old, and many of us still think it is good. In anohter 30 years, this will be still be true.
Schmackdown wrote:
Great song, I admire the chutzpah of anyone that attempts to cover it.
are you referring to having minerals?
I'm not much of a Beatles fan at all, but I love this song. It is so simple and pretty.
That 1 is not mine! I realy appreciate this song
bdmorgan72 wrote:
One of the most beautiful Beatles tunes ever.
Here! Here! Leave it to the Beatles to create a beautiful work of art and combine it with civil rights! This is such a great song. I wish that it would never end! 8)
Roto wrote:
This is the first Beatles song I ever heard. My uncle used to play it for me on his guitar when I was 5 or 6. Takes me right back there.
Wow! Similarly, I listened to my big sister practice it over and over until it was flawless. She still plays it today! Takes me back too.
Love "Tour Schedule" being available for the Beatles under song info :D
I never noted the click-pop on the left side, guess it was worn off my album long ago. Guess I should buy it in CD.