I didn’t start out to write about blackbirds this week. But then this wonderful post came across my desk and I had to share it with you. One thing led to another, and here you go: a whole post about blackbirds!
This week I want to share a beautiful post from another writer/illustrator here on Substack. The Blackbird and Other Stories, by Candace Rose Rardon, graciously and beautifully captures the fragile bridge we are crossing between winter and spring. Yes, I realise we are already fully in ‘Spring’, but I am not convinced the weather gods got the notification. Those of you who read an earlier post of mine, which discussed measuring time by seasons,
will appreciate the first part of Candace’s story about how she wants to tell time. And then there is the bit about a blackbird.
Click here to read it. (Go on. I’ll wait, promise!)
We recently have had a blackbird visiting our garden and I am very excited. I had never knowingly encountered a blackbird in California that is quite like an English blackbird. We had several in our patch when we lived in Plymouth and though some cursed their four am dawn chorus, to me the call and response across the neighbouring woodlands and rooftops was a gentle way to awaken. I always fell back asleep with a joyful spirit when they were finished.
Here on this part of the Island, since we are so close to the sea and also surrounded by houses rather than woodland, our neighbourhood birds are noisy gulls, crows, and jackdaws, with a few clumsy wood pigeons thrown in for light humour. I am currently watching one pigeon from my window as it balances on a branch too light for it’s weight. As it tries to pick small leaves off the tree, the branch dips, causing the bird to rock wildly and flap trying to not lose it’s balance. This is not unusual.
I have been sorely missing songbirds. But it seems that maybe this blackbird may be coming around more often. It was very bold when we dug up some of the dirt last weekend and uncovered some juicy tidbits. It was not shy and flew right around our legs to get what it wanted. Now I have started hearing its song in the late afternoon too, so I have high hopes!
For those of you who would like to hear what they sound like, you can click below. You are not required to listen to the full hour, although I must confess I had it playing the whole time I was writing this 😄:
If you are like me, I also have had the famous song Blackbird credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney sung by McCartney in my head on repeat. So obviously I went to the Internet to listen to it. I found the original, obviously, but oh my, there are a huge number of recorded covers of the song! One website lists 623 versions recorded by various artists.
I confess I lost a substantial amount of time listening to the song, many versions of which I belted out along with the musicians. Here are just a few if you wish to listen:
A Canadian musician and his nephew sing a really sweet version while in Central Park:
Here is the television show Glee Cast a capella version:
A live version with interesting harmonies by Crosby, Stills & Nash:
And of course the original:
There are oodles more wonderful versions, and I have barely scratched the surface.
Next week I will also be writing about music, but a different kind and another sort of story. In the meantime, I hope you are finding whatever springtime treasures make it special for you this week, and look forward to seeing you again next week!
I’d love to hear what versions of Blackbird resonate with you, if you have a favourite symbol of spring or a garden bird that fascinates you, or anything else you feel like sharing!
Happy spring and best wishes to you all!
xoxo Sabrina
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Yesterday wandering around Cardiff, my son and I headed into a large park full of brilliant green lawns and trees and tulips of all colors. We stopped to listen to the blackbirds. I had read your post that same morning and then several appeared in the afternoon. One of those lovely synchronicities. I listened with even more appreciation and wonder.
I loved listening to the different versions of the songs. It must have been a joy to listen to many and decide which to include. The comments on people's experiences with the song were moving. Many talked about how they listened to it daily after their father died. A father used to play the song on the guitar every day to his child. It evokes so many memories for people.
Truly lovely.
This has been such a lovely read.
I agree - blackbird song is perfection. Such a plain bird, and one that drives gardeners mad when they pull and scatter plants and mulch to get the best worms and grubs, but the song is divine. I think you encapsulated it when you said you would go back to sleep with joy after the chorale had finished.
And of course the music links are rather special. The Beatles rendition was always number one for me but now, having listened to the covers, I'm not so sure.
Thank you, Sabrina, for showing me there are many ways to tell Time.