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.
So delighted you were able to hear the blackbird song out in the wild! And in lovely Cardiff no less! That song has been such a gift to the world. All the versions are heartfelt, and as you say, hold so much emotions for many. Enchanting is the word that keeps spinning in my head when I think about that song. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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.
Loved this post and thank you for the versions of Blackbird! I really enjoyed the Canadian and his nephew, and the Glee version brought back so many memories of watching the show with Ali.
I was also going to mention Beyoncé’s version on her new album! I ditto what Martha said.
Thanks Patti! As I said in response to Martha, I will get back to listening to Beyonce asap! I can't believe I stopped listening to it so i could write this post, not noticing that the song I was distracted by was right there in front of me. Doh! Yep, Glee was such a fun watch, back in the day....
This was wonderful Sabrina! Thank you for all of the lovely pieces of writing and music which you included.
Just a few days ago I listened to Beyoncé’s version of Blackbird on her new album Cowboy Carter and found it lovely, with beautiful harmonies from the ensemble singing with her. If I could figure out how to add a link to it here I would, but hopefully those interested can find it without too much difficulty.
Tulips and daffodils are my absolute spring favorites! Also the dawn chorus of all sorts of birds starting up again. We have many mourning doves in Rochester and they are so gentle and lovely sounding.
Glad you enjoyed it Martha, thanks! I'll check out Beyonce's version asap! I was listening to her new album the other day and then got sidetracked before I realised that the song I was sidetracked by was on her album. Silly! How wonderful to have both tulips and daffodils. And I agree the dawn chorus is one of the best bonuses of our natural world :).
Blackbirds are my favourite garden birds, Sabrina, and I've loved reading this post about them. We have a very tame one who comes down for mealworms - he's gorgeous, and his song is beautiful. 🐦⬛
When I used to do environmental education, we'd walk groups of kids along a dry weedy path to a pond where the red-winged blackbirds would always be hanging out in the reeds, singing their song. Whenever I hear them anywhere else now, it sends me right back to that place, back to those kid hikes when I thought my sole attention was on watching for rattlesnakes but really my brain must've been focused on the blackbirds' song instead.
Thank you so much for reminding me that of course I knew about red-winged blackbirds, but I don't think I ever twigged (did ya see what I did there?) that they were the ones singing too! Silly me. Obviously you were better suited to environmental education, being much more observant than me! I am happy to hear their song has stuck with you.
Just lovely. One of my favorite Beatles songs, too. And it's hard for me to think about "Blackbird" without also thinking about Joe Cocker's tender cover of "Bye Bye Blackbird," recorded at almost exactly the same time.
After a year of futile pursuit on my part, my late wife finally succumbed to my charms in April 1981, just two months before we graduated from Williams College, and in my memory I will always associate that glorious time with the sight and especially the smell of the lilacs, which remain my favorite sign of spring. We used to creep around in the evening and pilfer sprays of white, pink, and purple blossoms from the neighbors and take them back to her room; they never lasted long, even in water, but their scent was almost unbearably beautiful while they did.
Ahhh, lovely lilac! Yes, what a wonderful scent they give off. And what a wonderful memory of spring to share. Thank you so much.
Great Joe Cocker song too! Embarrassingly, I had no idea it was called Bye bye Blackbird. I haven't heard it in awhile and listening to it fills me with joy...!
What a lovely sound they make! I know it's officially Spring here now because of the cacophany of bird song-- I think they're all playing at one-upmanship.
Great Beatles song, & now I'll join you down the rabbit hole of cover versions! My favorite version of "Blackbird," just out of nostalgia, is an instrumental off the 2001 "Bedtime with the Beatles." My now 20-year-old would never fall asleep as a baby so I rocked her on repeat to that album.
I can imagine that with your diverse farm vegetation that you attract a most wonderful chorus of songbirds! How utterly delightful! I will look for the version of Blackbird you mention-it sounds really lovely. And what a wonderful choice to rock your baby to sleep...(for both of you!)
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.
So delighted you were able to hear the blackbird song out in the wild! And in lovely Cardiff no less! That song has been such a gift to the world. All the versions are heartfelt, and as you say, hold so much emotions for many. Enchanting is the word that keeps spinning in my head when I think about that song. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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.
Thanks Prue. I agree with you about the various versions- they are each lovely in different ways, and I enjoy singing along with all of them!
Loved this post and thank you for the versions of Blackbird! I really enjoyed the Canadian and his nephew, and the Glee version brought back so many memories of watching the show with Ali.
I was also going to mention Beyoncé’s version on her new album! I ditto what Martha said.
Thanks Patti! As I said in response to Martha, I will get back to listening to Beyonce asap! I can't believe I stopped listening to it so i could write this post, not noticing that the song I was distracted by was right there in front of me. Doh! Yep, Glee was such a fun watch, back in the day....
This was wonderful Sabrina! Thank you for all of the lovely pieces of writing and music which you included.
Just a few days ago I listened to Beyoncé’s version of Blackbird on her new album Cowboy Carter and found it lovely, with beautiful harmonies from the ensemble singing with her. If I could figure out how to add a link to it here I would, but hopefully those interested can find it without too much difficulty.
Tulips and daffodils are my absolute spring favorites! Also the dawn chorus of all sorts of birds starting up again. We have many mourning doves in Rochester and they are so gentle and lovely sounding.
Glad you enjoyed it Martha, thanks! I'll check out Beyonce's version asap! I was listening to her new album the other day and then got sidetracked before I realised that the song I was sidetracked by was on her album. Silly! How wonderful to have both tulips and daffodils. And I agree the dawn chorus is one of the best bonuses of our natural world :).
Blackbirds are my favourite garden birds, Sabrina, and I've loved reading this post about them. We have a very tame one who comes down for mealworms - he's gorgeous, and his song is beautiful. 🐦⬛
When I used to do environmental education, we'd walk groups of kids along a dry weedy path to a pond where the red-winged blackbirds would always be hanging out in the reeds, singing their song. Whenever I hear them anywhere else now, it sends me right back to that place, back to those kid hikes when I thought my sole attention was on watching for rattlesnakes but really my brain must've been focused on the blackbirds' song instead.
Thank you so much for reminding me that of course I knew about red-winged blackbirds, but I don't think I ever twigged (did ya see what I did there?) that they were the ones singing too! Silly me. Obviously you were better suited to environmental education, being much more observant than me! I am happy to hear their song has stuck with you.
Just lovely. One of my favorite Beatles songs, too. And it's hard for me to think about "Blackbird" without also thinking about Joe Cocker's tender cover of "Bye Bye Blackbird," recorded at almost exactly the same time.
After a year of futile pursuit on my part, my late wife finally succumbed to my charms in April 1981, just two months before we graduated from Williams College, and in my memory I will always associate that glorious time with the sight and especially the smell of the lilacs, which remain my favorite sign of spring. We used to creep around in the evening and pilfer sprays of white, pink, and purple blossoms from the neighbors and take them back to her room; they never lasted long, even in water, but their scent was almost unbearably beautiful while they did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtPD0sAhCUo
Ahhh, lovely lilac! Yes, what a wonderful scent they give off. And what a wonderful memory of spring to share. Thank you so much.
Great Joe Cocker song too! Embarrassingly, I had no idea it was called Bye bye Blackbird. I haven't heard it in awhile and listening to it fills me with joy...!
What a lovely sound they make! I know it's officially Spring here now because of the cacophany of bird song-- I think they're all playing at one-upmanship.
Great Beatles song, & now I'll join you down the rabbit hole of cover versions! My favorite version of "Blackbird," just out of nostalgia, is an instrumental off the 2001 "Bedtime with the Beatles." My now 20-year-old would never fall asleep as a baby so I rocked her on repeat to that album.
I can imagine that with your diverse farm vegetation that you attract a most wonderful chorus of songbirds! How utterly delightful! I will look for the version of Blackbird you mention-it sounds really lovely. And what a wonderful choice to rock your baby to sleep...(for both of you!)