Dickson was born in Dunfermline. Her singing career started in folk clubs around her native Fife in the sixties, exposing her to a rich combination of traditional and contemporary music. In the early seventies, she sang at a Liverpool folk club run by a young student teacher called Willy Russell. He showed Barbara the first draft of what would later become the award winning musical, ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo….and Bert’ and asked her to perform the music. The combination of fine writing, a superb cast of young unknowns, (including Antony Sher, Bernard Hill and Trevor Eve), and Barbara’s idiosyncratic interpretation of Beatles songs made the show hugely successful.
The show’s co-producer, Robert Stigwood, signed Barbara to his record label, RSO Records, where she recorded the album ‘Answer Me’, the title track becoming a top ten hit in 1976. This led to her guest residency on the much-loved series ‘The Two Ronnies’, which brought Barbara’s singing to the attention of more than 10 million BBC viewers every week.
Also impressed by Barbara’s performance were Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who invited her to record ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ from the new musical ‘Evita’, which became her second hit in 1977.
Other hits including ‘Caravan Song’ and ‘January, February’, followed in 1980.
In 1982, Willy Russell asked Barbara to star in his new musical ‘Blood Brothers’ in the pivotal role of the mother, Mrs. Johnstone. Although at first reluctant to accept, having never acted before, (not even in a school play!), she rose to the challenge, in the process garnering critical acclaim as well as Actress of the Year in a Musical from the Society of West End Theatres in 1984.
Later that year, Tim Rice approached Barbara to take part in the cast album recording of the musical ‘Chess’, which included the song ‘I Know Him So Well’, a duet sung with Elaine Paige. The song was a worldwide hit and remained at number one in the UK charts for many weeks.
During the 1990s Barbara appeared in various TV dramas including ‘Taggart’, the award winning ‘Band of Gold’ and ‘The Missing Postman’.
Acclaimed writer and director Chris Bond created a show for Barbara in 1996 called ‘The Seven Ages of Woman’ which won her the Liverpool Echo Actress of the Year Award. It premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse and toured extensively in 1997 and 1998.
In 1999, Barbara starred in ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’, a new musical by Steve Brown and Justin Greene. The show, based on the rollercoaster life story of pools winner, Viv Nicholson, played in the West End to capacity audiences. For her portrayal of Viv, Barbara was awarded ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ at the 2000 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Barbara continues to appear in concert and on record. She has in the last few years had great success with ‘The Platinum Collection’, which featured some of her most successful recordings.
Her last album, ‘Full Circle’, a journey back through her musical history, was hugely admired and well reviewed. Barbara’s most recent CD is an eclectic collection of the songs of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison called ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My World.’
During 2006 she has appeared as the Timekeeper in Alan Ayckbourn and Denis King’s fantasy musical play
‘Whenever’ for BBC Radio 4 and presented ‘Finding A Voice’, also for BBC Radio 4.
Married with three teenaged sons, Barbara lives in Lincolnshire. An O.B.E. was conferred upon her in the Queens’ New Year’s Honours in 2002.
Singing Bird
Barbara Dickson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heard his song up in the blue
I have heard the blackbird pipe his note
The thrush and the linnet too
But there's none of them can sing so sweet
My singing bird as you
My singing bird as you
From his own cosy nest
If I could catch my singing bird
I would warm him on my breast
But there's none of them can sing so sweet
My singing bird as you
Oh, I will climb a high, high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And I'll bring back my singing bird
To the arms that I love best
But there's none of them can sing so sweet
My singing bird as you
My singing bird as you
The lyrics to Barbara Dickson's song Singing Bird describe the singer's admiration for her special bird that sings sweeter than any other bird she has ever heard. The lyrics compare the singing bird to other birds like the lark, blackbird, thrush and linnet, stating that none of them can sing as sweetly as her singing bird. The singer wishes to lure her singing bird from its nest and warm it against her breast. She is so in love with the singing bird that she even contemplates climbing a high tree to rob a wild bird's nest in order to bring it back to her arms. The lyrics create an image of a peaceful morning, where the singer has been observing different birds and has found the one that steals her heart.
Some have interpreted the song as a love ballad, wherein the singer compares her lover to the sweet singing bird. Some others see it to be a song about the love of nature and the beauty of birdsong. Despite the possible interpretations, it is undeniable that the song conveys a sense of love, admiration and longing for something special.
Overall, Singing Bird is a beautifully written and sung song that evokes feelings of serenity, love, and admiration. The lyrics take a simple concept of observing birds, and bring it to life through the singer's personal affection, creating a resonant and lasting musical experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I have seen the lark soar high at morn
In the morning, I have seen the lark fly up high
Heard his song up in the blue
I have heard his song in the sky
I have heard the blackbird pipe his note
I have heard the blackbird sing his note
The thrush and the linnet too
As well as the thrush and the linnet
But there's none of them can sing so sweet
However, none of them can sing as sweetly
My singing bird as you
As my singing bird does
If I could lure my singing bird
If I could entice my singing bird
From his own cosy nest
Away from his comfortable home
If I could catch my singing bird
If I could capture my singing bird
I would warm him on my breast
I would hold him close to my chest
Oh, I will climb a high, high tree
I will climb a tall tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And I will take an egg or chick from a wild bird's nest
And I'll bring back my singing bird
And I will bring my singing bird back
To the arms that I love best
To be held by the one I love the most
But there's none of them can sing so sweet
However, none of them can sing as sweetly
My singing bird as you
As my singing bird does
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ken Rewcastle
Kenrew, I, along with I guess many others. have been waiting for this addition to You Tube. One of the best songs from certainly one of Barbara's greatest albums. Brilliant!
Tammy Sweetkiss
barbara sings backing vocals on another great scotish singer gerry rafferty, well worth a listen
Shirley Jones
A celtic soul for sure ...
phil ip
Doesn't work....listen to The Clancy Brothers for the real essence of the song.
Gayalert69
Absolute nonsense. It works. She is a fine, fine singer and a great interpreter of songs