He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied at the School of Music there. A multi-instrumentalist, he was hired by Hans Busch to play with his orchestra before serving as a bandsman in the German Navy during World War II. He later formed his own big band, toured with them, then worked as an arranger and producer, making hit records with Freddy Quinn and Ivo Robic. In 1961, he hired The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan on "My Bonnie (Lies Over the Ocean)," "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Ain't She Sweet" and "Cry for a Shadow," in a session for Polydor. These turned out to be the Beatles' first commercial recordings. When Beatles manager Brian Epstein asked Kaempfert about further promoting The Beatles, Kaempfert informed Epstein that the company was only interested in The Beatles as Tony Sheridan's backup group. (It also turned out British Decca executive Dick Rowe turned them down in favor of local beat combo Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.) He then released The Beatles from their contract with Polydor.
Bye Bye Blackbird
Bert Kaempfert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Pack up all my cares and woe, here I go, winging low
Bye, bye, blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye, bye, blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye, bye
Bye, bye, blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
Bye, bye, blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye, bye
The lyrics of Bert Kaempfert's song, Bye Bye Blackbird, speak of a sense of alienation and disappointment with the people around the singer. The phrase "No one here can love or understand me" indicates a feeling of isolation and disconnect from those around the singer. The line, "Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me," suggests that the people around the singer have their own problems, and are not able or willing to empathize with the singer's plight.
The chorus of the song is an expression of the singer's desire to escape from their current situation. The lines, "Pack up all my cares and woe, here I go, winging low" and "Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight" suggest a hasty departure and a desire to leave behind the burdens of the present. The final line, "Blackbird, bye, bye," seems to be a direct address to the "blackbird," which could represent a person, a situation, or a state of mind that the singer wishes to leave behind.
In the second verse, the singer repeats the first verse with slight variations, once again expressing their desire to leave and find someone who can understand and care for them. The final chorus repeats the same lyrics as the first chorus, emphasizing the singer's desire to leave and find a new, more fulfilling situation.
Line by Line Meaning
No one here can love or understand me
I feel alone and unappreciated by those around me.
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Everyone seems to have their own struggles and they often tell me their sad tales as well.
Pack up all my cares and woe, here I go, winging low
I want to leave behind my worries and take a chance on something new and unknown.
Bye, bye, blackbird
I am saying goodbye to my old life and all its troubles.
Where somebody waits for me
I am hopeful that there is someone out there who will appreciate me and my company.
Sugar's sweet, so is she
I am looking forward to meeting someone kind and loving who will make me happy.
Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
I am taking a journey to find new opportunities and I will arrive at my destination later tonight.
Blackbird, bye, bye
I am leaving behind my old life and saying farewell to all the difficulties that came with it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind