Blackbird
Ellem and Justin Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,




You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Overall Meaning

The song "Blackbird" by The Beatles is widely interpreted to be about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The lyrics describe a blackbird singing in the dead of night, symbolizing a voice of hope in the darkness of oppression. The first verse encourages the bird to learn to fly with its broken wings, suggesting that even when faced with adversity, one can still find strength and rise above their circumstances. The second verse urges the bird with sunken eyes to learn to see, indicating that the oppressed should gain a new perspective and keep fighting for their rights. The refrain "blackbird fly, into the light of the dark black night" seems to be a call to action, urging the bird to continue its flight towards freedom.


The song is also seen as a tribute to the resilience and courage of black women, particularly those in the Civil Rights Movement. Paul McCartney has said that the song was inspired by hearing a black female singer (likely Nina Simone) performing during the height of the movement. He said he was struck by the power and beauty of her voice and envisioned the blackbird as a symbol of hope and strength for those fighting for justice. The song has become an anthem for many activists and has been covered by countless musicians over the years.


Line by Line Meaning

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
The singer is witnessing a blackbird singing in the quiet night.


Take these broken wings and learn to fly
The singer is asking the blackbird to overcome its struggles and rise.


All your life
The singer understands the blackbird has been struggling for its entire life.


You were only waiting for this moment to arise
The singer believes the blackbird has been waiting for this opportunity to succeed and thrive.


Black bird singing in the dead of night
The singer is again witnessing the blackbird singing in the quiet night.


Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
The singer is asking the blackbird to see beyond its past and recognize its true potential.


You were only waiting for this moment to be free
The singer believes the blackbird has been longing for freedom and this is its chance to achieve it.


Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
The singer is urging the blackbird to take flight.


Into the light of the dark black night.
The singer is encouraging the blackbird to venture into the unknown and face its fears.


All your life
The singer understands the blackbird has been struggling for its entire life.


You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
The focus is back on seizing the chance to succeed and thrive.


You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
The singer emphasizes that this is the blackbird's moment to rise.


You were only waiting for this moment to arise
The focus remains on seizing this opportunity for success and freedom.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Malcolm Convey

Holy shit Justin... You'll never read this of course, but I take my hat off to you Sir!

You see, a musician can be technically a good player, but it's when you put two musicians together that you get to see the real magic.

That silent communication is wonderful to observe and feel.

Brett W

That's my new favorite version of this tune.

Janus Guttmann-Fich

Beautiful! A bit too much volume on the guitar, but one can hardly complain ;)

Tallguyalec

LOVE LOVE LOVE the arrangement! true to the original, but adds new style :)

Stephen Lafferty

A great voice, and a wonderful tone on the J-200 - thanks for sharing this!

Kaito Kid

Hey Justin. I love your lessons and you are a great teacher ^^ This cover was also great (Y) I want to ask you sth: Can you make a lesson about playing superstition by stevie wonder. I love this song :) Greets KaitoMKid

dzjc01

Wow! What a incredible version. Please keep 'em coming! Dale

Sean Barr

BRAVO!! Justin, so great to see you in a non-tutorial context for a change! MORE MORE!!! And more with ELLEM!!! She's PHENOMENAL!

Gregory Power

Great Job! I'm definitely a fan! Keep up the great music & teachings. Cheers!

Rob H

Beautiful playing and singing. You complement each other and should do more like this. Fantastic!

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