Bye Bye Blackbird
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"Bye Bye Blackbird" is a song published in 1926 by the American composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. It is considered a popular standard and was first recorded by Gene Austin in 1926.[1]
Song information
It was the No. 16 song of 1926 according to Pop Culture Madness.[2] John Coltrane won the 1981 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist for his rendering of the song.[3] Recordings of the song often include only the chorus; the verses are far less known.[4]
The song was also copied by "Charlie and His Orchestra," German Karl Schwedler, of "The Templin Band" during World War II as part of Joseph Goebbels' propaganda campaign. But, the lyrics were changed to reflect the German political rhetoric of the time and intended to demoralize the Allied forces. The tune(s) were sung in English and aimed at United States and British troops, as well as British citizens. The song and melody were not permitted to be played in National Socialist Germany because Nazi leadership forbade progressive styles of music like jazz.[citation needed]
Lyrics and meaning
There is much speculation about the meaning of the song.[5] At least two commentators (using the same source) attribute the song to a prostitute's leaving the business and going home to her mother.[6][7] As such, it is the opposite of "House of the Rising Sun", where the prostitute returns to the business.[8] The reason for the song's apparent ambiguity is that the opening verse and the verses about the bluebird are rarely sung. See, for example, this listing at lyricsplayground
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Blackbird, blackbird singing the blues all day All through the winter you hung around Pack up all my care and woe Bye bye blackbird Where somebody waits for me Bye bye blackbird No one here can love and understand me Blackbird, bye bye |
Bluebird bluebird calling me far away I'm like a flower that's fading here Pack up all my care and woe Bye bye blackbird Where somebody waits for me Bye bye blackbird No one here can love and understand me Blackbird, bye bye |
Recordings
"Bye Bye Blackbird" has been recorded by many artists, including
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Appearances in film, literature, and other media
It has been featured in the soundtracks of at least seven movies since 1969, including Sleepless in Seattle[15] and The History Boys, where it is performed by Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker, [16] The song features in the 1980 movie Melvin and Howard, with Jason Robards, Jr. as Howard Hughes singing the chorus, as a western swing version of the song covers the closing credits.[17]
The song is featured in the Tony-winning Broadway musical revue "Fosse," which showcases the choreography of the late Bob Fosse. Fosse originally included the song in Liza Minnelli's Emmy-winning 1972 television concert film "Liza with a Z," which Fosse directed, produced and choreographed.
The song is given a fictional, mystical importance in Theodore Roszak's novel Flicker.[18][full citation needed] In E.L. Doctorow's Billy Bathgate, the mafia victim sings the song on his final voyage through New York harbor in cement shoes.
"Bye Bye Blackbird" was a background theme for the 2009 film, Public Enemies with Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Marion Cotillard as Billie Frechette. In the final scene of the film an officer tells Billie, now in prison, that he knelt to hear John's final words. Those words were: "Tell Billie for me: 'Bye, Bye, Blackbird'".
In 2002, the song was sung by The Whiffenpoofs, Yale University's a cappella group, on The West Wing Season 4 episode entitled "Holy Night".
The song also appeared in 1968 movie Anzio, an episode of "Mad Men," and the movie A River Runs Through It, and it was performed as a duet by Jerry Van Dyke and Ty Hardin in the 1963 film Palm Springs Weekend. Peggy Lees performance was used in Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005 film)
See also
References
- ^ Joe Cocker: Bye Bye Blackbird at secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ Pop Music Hits of 1926 Song Chart at popculturemadness.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ 1981 Grammy Award Winners at popculturemadness.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ What are the rest of the lyrics to "Bye Bye Blackbird"? at straightdope.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-1/byebyeblackbird.htm
- ^ http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/usa/blakbird.htm
- ^ http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mblackbird.html
- ^ Ted Anthony, Chasing the Rising Sun: The Journey of an American Song
- ^ Miles Davis: Bye Bye Blackbird at mp3.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ Keith Jarrett: Bye Bye Blackbird at amazon.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ Chelsea Krombach at pkorecords.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ Liza Minnelli: Liza with a 'Z' at amazon.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ http://www.curtisstigers.com/music
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r149961
- ^ Mort Dixon discography at movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ The History Boys soundtrack at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ Melvin and Howard review. Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, February 25, 2004.
- ^ [1]