"Blackbird" (McCartney – November 25, 1968)
The BEATLES (a.k.a., The White Album) – Side 2, track 3 (2:18)
YouTube (McCartney live)
From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, About.com, and Google –
McCartney explained on PBS's Great Performances (Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road), aired in 2006, that the guitar accompaniment for "Blackbird" was inspired by J.S. Bach's Bourrée in E minor, a well known lute piece, often played on the classical guitar. As children, he and George Harrison tried to learn Bourrée as a "show off" piece. Bourrée is distinguished by melody and bass notes played simultaneously on the upper and lower strings. McCartney adapted a segment of Bourrée as the opening of "Blackbird," and carried the musical idea throughout the song.
McCartney explained on PBS's Great Performances (Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road), aired in 2006, that the guitar accompaniment for "Blackbird" was inspired by J.S. Bach's Bourrée in E minor, a well known lute piece, often played on the classical guitar. As children, he and George Harrison tried to learn Bourrée as a "show off" piece. Bourrée is distinguished by melody and bass notes played simultaneously on the upper and lower strings. McCartney adapted a segment of Bourrée as the opening of "Blackbird," and carried the musical idea throughout the song.
The first night his future wife Linda Eastman stayed at his home, McCartney played "Blackbird" for the fans camped outside his house.
History –
History –
The history of "Blackbird" - essentially a Paul McCartney song, written and performed by him alone - is one of the more nebulous in Beatles lore. Some sources claim the song was written in India, inspired by an actual blackbird singing outside Paul's window; indeed, the song shows up, nearly intact, on the "Kinfauns" demos made at George's Esher home in late May 1968. Paul let this perception stand for years before claiming that the song was composed at his farm in Scotland. When, shortly after returning from Scotland in September 1968, he invited photographer Linda McCartney to his London home for the first time, fans outside his home heard him playing the song to them while sitting in a window.
Folk singer Donovan, who taught John the finger-picking style of guitar that he would later use on "Julia" and "Dear Prudence," among other tracks, was with the band during their spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, India in the spring of 1968, and while he didn't recall the song being played there, it was his guitar style that he claims was an inspiration for "Blackbird." Paul, on the other hand, cites a well-known Bach piece called "Bourree in E minor," written for lute but often played on acoustic guitar, as the main inspiration; the contrapuntal bass-and-melody arrangement was apparently what got the song going. (Further muddying the waters, John claimed to have given Paul "a line" of the song, usually thought to be the very Lennonesque phrase "take these broken wings and learn to fly." McCartney has never acknowledged this.)
Although the song has been often interpreted as a metaphor for race relations and the civil rights struggle then underway by African-Americans in the US, for decades McCartney kept silent on such a reading, perhaps because notorious cult leader Charles Manson read the song as an invitation to an outright race war. However, the "civil rights struggle" interpretation persisted, and Paul eventually began claiming it as truth. (It's worth noting that Paul later recorded a similar solo song called "Bluebird" which had no such metaphor attached to it.)
Folk singer Donovan, who taught John the finger-picking style of guitar that he would later use on "Julia" and "Dear Prudence," among other tracks, was with the band during their spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, India in the spring of 1968, and while he didn't recall the song being played there, it was his guitar style that he claims was an inspiration for "Blackbird." Paul, on the other hand, cites a well-known Bach piece called "Bourree in E minor," written for lute but often played on acoustic guitar, as the main inspiration; the contrapuntal bass-and-melody arrangement was apparently what got the song going. (Further muddying the waters, John claimed to have given Paul "a line" of the song, usually thought to be the very Lennonesque phrase "take these broken wings and learn to fly." McCartney has never acknowledged this.)
Although the song has been often interpreted as a metaphor for race relations and the civil rights struggle then underway by African-Americans in the US, for decades McCartney kept silent on such a reading, perhaps because notorious cult leader Charles Manson read the song as an invitation to an outright race war. However, the "civil rights struggle" interpretation persisted, and Paul eventually began claiming it as truth. (It's worth noting that Paul later recorded a similar solo song called "Bluebird" which had no such metaphor attached to it.)
The recording of "Blackbird" was as simple as possible. Paul entered Studio 2 on June 11, 1968, and ran through the song 32 times to get it just the way he wanted, accompanying himself only on acoustic guitar and his feet tapping for rhythm (recorded by a mic placed near the ground). After a slight bit of vocal double-tracking, the song was complete. During the recorded rehearsal, Paul also made a very bluesy dry run of "Helter Skelter" as well as a short, improvised song called "Gone Tomorrow, Here Today" that was never officially released. Meanwhile in Studio 3, John gave an interview and finished assembling the tape loops that would eventually form the basis of "Revolution 9."
Meaning –
Meaning –
McCartney was inspired to write it while in Scotland as a reaction to racial tensions escalating in the United States in the spring of 1968.
In May 2002, during a show at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas as part of the Driving USA Tour supporting the Driving Rain album.
McCartney spoke on stage about the meaning of the song. KCRW DJ Chris Douridas interviewed McCartney backstage afterwards for his radio show New Ground, and the meaning of the song was discussed. This interview aired on KCRW on May 25, 2002.
"I had been doing poetry readings. I had been doing some in the last year or so because I've got a poetry book out called Blackbird Singing, and when I would read Blackbird, I would always try and think of some explanation to tell the people, 'cause there's not a lot you can do except just read the poem, you know, you read 10 poems that takes about 10 minutes, almost. It's like, you've got to, just, do a bit more than that. So, I was doing explanations, and I actually just remembered why I'd written Blackbird, you know, that I'd been, I was in Scotland playing on my guitar, and I remembered this whole idea of "you were only waiting for this moment to arise" was about, you know, the black people's struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird. It's not really about a blackbird whose wings are broken, you know, it's a bit more symbolic."
Also during the Driving USA Tour before his Solo Acoustic Guitar set he explained that "bird" is british slang for girl. So Blackbird would be black girl. At the end of his playing Blackbird they had a young black woman sing a part of the bridge, "You were only waiting for this moment to arrive, Blackbird fly.....", which faded to the commercial.
In 2009, McCartney performed this song at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commenting prior to singing it on how it had been written in response to the 1960s Civil Rights movement, and added, "It's so great to realize so many civil rights issues have been overcome."
In May 2002, during a show at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas as part of the Driving USA Tour supporting the Driving Rain album.
McCartney spoke on stage about the meaning of the song. KCRW DJ Chris Douridas interviewed McCartney backstage afterwards for his radio show New Ground, and the meaning of the song was discussed. This interview aired on KCRW on May 25, 2002.
"I had been doing poetry readings. I had been doing some in the last year or so because I've got a poetry book out called Blackbird Singing, and when I would read Blackbird, I would always try and think of some explanation to tell the people, 'cause there's not a lot you can do except just read the poem, you know, you read 10 poems that takes about 10 minutes, almost. It's like, you've got to, just, do a bit more than that. So, I was doing explanations, and I actually just remembered why I'd written Blackbird, you know, that I'd been, I was in Scotland playing on my guitar, and I remembered this whole idea of "you were only waiting for this moment to arise" was about, you know, the black people's struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird. It's not really about a blackbird whose wings are broken, you know, it's a bit more symbolic."
Also during the Driving USA Tour before his Solo Acoustic Guitar set he explained that "bird" is british slang for girl. So Blackbird would be black girl. At the end of his playing Blackbird they had a young black woman sing a part of the bridge, "You were only waiting for this moment to arrive, Blackbird fly.....", which faded to the commercial.
In 2009, McCartney performed this song at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commenting prior to singing it on how it had been written in response to the 1960s Civil Rights movement, and added, "It's so great to realize so many civil rights issues have been overcome."
Takes: 32
Personnel –
Personnel –
Paul McCartney – Lead vocals (double-tracked), acoustic guitar (1967 Martin D-28), foot tapping
Trivia –
Trivia –
Although the rhythmic sound in "Blackbird" is often mis-attributed to percussion or a metronome, it is indeed Paul's feet - his "White Album girlfriend" Francie Schwartz attests to this, and there's footage of Paul with her in the studio performing the song just that way.
The blackbird sounds that enter during the middle of the song and are heard again at the end were taken from the Abbey Road Studios' vast library of sound effects; they were recorded by studio engineer Stuart Eltham in his back yard in 1965. As with so many Beatles songs from this era, the effects are slightly different in the mono mix, featuring extra bird sounds from the same source mixed in at different parts of the song. Adding to the song's mythology, Paul has also claimed to have woken up one morning after the song was recorded to hear an actual blackbird outside his window, singing a melody very like that of his tune.
Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) March 3 –
Perhaps adding weight to Donovan's claim, he and Paul ran through "Blackbird" during sessions for Apple protege Mary Hopkin's debut album Post Card in late 1968. McCartney performed "Blackbird" several times during his solo career: first as part of a medley in the one-time-only ATV/ABC special James Paul McCartney, broadcast in 1973, then during his 1974 Nashville sessions, as well as in an unreleased film of Paul's, The Backyard, shot at around the same time. It was part of the set list during his 1974 tour of Australia, his famous Wings Over America tour of 1976, his 1991 appearance on the MTV series Unplugged, on his 2002 world tour, and was performed during an "Earth Day" concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1993.
The blackbird sounds that enter during the middle of the song and are heard again at the end were taken from the Abbey Road Studios' vast library of sound effects; they were recorded by studio engineer Stuart Eltham in his back yard in 1965. As with so many Beatles songs from this era, the effects are slightly different in the mono mix, featuring extra bird sounds from the same source mixed in at different parts of the song. Adding to the song's mythology, Paul has also claimed to have woken up one morning after the song was recorded to hear an actual blackbird outside his window, singing a melody very like that of his tune.
Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) March 3 –
1962 – Performance at the Cavern, with Jim McHarg's Jazzmen.
1963 – Concert at the Gaumont, Hanley. End of Helen Shapiro tour, 1st Beatles British tour.
– Helen Shapiro asks the Beatles a song.
1964 – Studio 1 (control room only). 10.00am-1.45pm. Mono mixing: "I Should Have Known Better" (from take 22); "If I Fell" (from take 15); "Tell Me Why" (from take 8); "And I Love Her" (remix 1, from take 21); "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" (from take 4); "I Call Your Name" (from take 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: A. B. Lincoln.
– Remixes for EMI and United Artists.
– Transmision in London of the television show The Big Out (recorded 29 February 1964).
– Transmision in London of the television show The Big Out (recorded 29 February 1964).
– Shooting of early scenes for A Hard Day's Night, on board a train leaving from Paddington Station.
The train carrying the Beatles from Minehead to Paddington stops unannounced at – West Ealing Station, to avoid the fans waiting at Paddington. The Beatles are taken into the booking office and sign autographs. Within minutes the group are taken away in a car.
– After a day of filming in the West Country for A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles return to Westbourne Park Station, London.
– After a day of filming in the West Country for A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles return to Westbourne Park Station, London.
1967 – Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.15am. Recording: "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (overdub onto take 10). Mono mixing: "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (remixes 1-4, from take 8). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.
– Recording of brasses and guitar solo for 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
– John takes home a tape of conversation of musicians, Paul and Martin, for his private collection.
– UK LP release: The Beatles Girls, instrumental, by George Martin.
– John takes home a tape of conversation of musicians, Paul and Martin, for his private collection.
– UK LP release: The Beatles Girls, instrumental, by George Martin.
1990 – Paul's concert in Tokyo (Get Back Tour).
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