Paul wrote it in Scotland but was inspired by the song of a bird that wakes him up every morning in India. He discusses with John whether to add a string quartet, but in the end, it's just Paul, his guitar, and the birds…
Paul McCartney wrote Blackbird on his farm in Campbeltown, Scotland. However, it likely started to take shape in his mind during the spring of 1968, while attending the Maharishi's retreat in Rishikesh, India, where Paul would wake up to the sound of a blackbird singing before dawn. The song may have also drawn inspiration from current events surrounding the growing racial tensions in America at the time. Nevertheless, with its moving encouragement in the opening verse, «Take these broken wings and learn to fly», Blackbird manages to achieve an even more universal significance than the similar emotional state expressed in Hey Jude, becoming one of Paul's finest compositions.
The recording features only the songwriter himself on acoustic guitar, vocals (doubled in the choruses), and the characteristic rhythm maintained by tapping his foot. The background chirping noises are partly taken from the sound effects archives at Abbey Road and partly a result of recording the song in a sheltered corner outside the studio. McCartney wanted the song to sound as if it were being sung outdoors, and that's exactly how it turned out.
Recorded and mixed by Brizio Romagnoli and Massimo Gerini.
Video by Brizio Romagnoli.
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 a dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird 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
