Blackbird
Fat Freddy's Drop Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There was one before
And now are many
And as the days go by
I see them multiply
I can't eat
I can't sleep
Because I know
They've been watching me

Falling down on me

There's a, blackbird
In my garden
Oh!

There was one before
And now are many
And as the days go by
I see them multiply
I can't eat
I can't sleep
Because I know
They've been watching me

Falling down on me

There's a blackbird




In my garden
Oh!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fat Freddy's Drop’s “Blackbird” speak of being under surveillance, and not being able to rest or eat because of it. The opening verses of the song set the tone of anxiety and unease, as the singer expresses their awareness of being watched by an unknown entity. The repetition of the line “there was one before, and now are many” emphasizes that the number of watchers has increased, adding to the singer’s distress. The lyrics also suggest that the watcher(s) have a power that makes the singer feel small, as they “fall down” on them.


The chorus of the song introduces the blackbird, which becomes a metaphor for the surveillance that the singer is experiencing. Like the blackbird in the garden, the watcher(s) remain hidden while observing and monitoring the singer's every move. The blackbird is also portrayed as a harbinger of danger, a sign of things to come.


The lyrics of “Blackbird” leave room for interpretation, but one reading of the song could suggest that it is a commentary on the surveillance state and the loss of privacy in the modern world. It speaks to the feeling of being constantly watched, and the impact that it can have on mental and emotional wellbeing.


Line by Line Meaning

There was one before
I have had some type of experience with being watched before


And now are many
The number of people watching me has increased


And as the days go by
I am becoming more and more aware of being watched


I see them multiply
The number of people watching me continues to grow


I can't eat
I am anxious and worried about being watched, and this is affecting my appetite


I can't sleep
I am anxious and worried about being watched, and this is keeping me awake at night


Because I know
I am certain that I am being watched


They've been watching me
There are people watching me, and they have been doing it for some time


Falling down on me
The feeling of being watched is oppressive and heavy


There's a blackbird
I am using the image of a blackbird to represent the people watching me


In my garden
The people watching me are close, like they are in my backyard


Oh!
This feeling of being watched is intense and overwhelming




Writer(s): Chris Faiumu, Dallas Tamaira, Scott Towers, Joseph Lindsay, Iain Gordon, Toby Laing, Tehimana Kerr

Contributed by Eli J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@manuelluque9095

Where there was one before,
now there are many,
and as the days go by,
I see them multiply.
I can't eat, I can't sleep,
because I know the'll be watching me.

Descending on the beast,
these shadows keep folding down,
for me.
Mmmmm

There's a blackbird,
in my garden,
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ohoh ohoh ohohohoho.
There's a blackbird,
in my garden,
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ohoh ohoh ohohohoho.

Where there was one before, mmm
now there are many,
What are they waiting for,
food I have not to need.
I can't eat, I can't sleep,
because I know the'll be watching me.
Yellow eyes that see right through,
I don't know what I'm supposed to do,
For these blackbirds,
in my garden,
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ohoh ohoh ohohohoho.
blackbirds in my gargen,
oh oh oh oh oh oh



@alexv3357

Guard: "Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?"
Arthur: "Of course not! They could be carried."
Guard: "By what? A blackbird swallow carrying a coconut?"
Arthur: "It could grip it by the husk."
Guard: "It's not a question of where it grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios. A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut!"
Arthur: "Well it doesn't matter! Could you tell your master that Arthur from the court of Camelot is here?"
Guard: "Look, in order to maintain airspeed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right?"
Arthur: "Please!"
Guard: "Am I right?"
Arthur: "I'm not interested!"
Guard #2: "It could be carried by an African swallow."
Guard: "Oh yeah, an African swallow maybe, but not a European swallow, that's what I'm saying."
Guard #2: "Oh I agree with that."
Arthur: "Will you ask your master if he wants to join my court at Camelot?"
Guard: "But then again, African swallows are non-migratory."
Guard #2: "Oh yeah. So they couldn't bring a coconut back anyway. Wait, supposing two swallows carried it together?"
Guard: "Nah, they'd have to have it on a line!"
Guard #2: "Simple! They just use a stranded creeper!"
Guard: "What, held under the dorsal guiding feathers?"
Guard #2: "Well why not?"



@puntoventa7110

Where there was one before
Now there are many
And as the days go by
I see them multiply
I can't eat
I can't sleep
Because I know they'll be watching me
Descending on the breeze
Their shadows keep falling down on me

There's a blackbird
In my garden
Oh!
There's a blackbird
In my garden
Oh!

Where there was one before
Now there are many
What are they're waiting for?
Food I have not any
I can't eat
I can't sleep
Because I know they'll be watching me
With yellow eyes that see right through
I don't know what I'm supposed to do

All these blackbirds
In my garden
Oh!
Blackbird
In my gar



@senzomdlalose9195

Where there was one before
Now there are many
And as the days go by
I see them multiply
I can't eat
I can't sleep
Because I know they'll be watching me
Descending on the breeze
Their shadows keep falling down on me

There's a blackbird
In my garden
Oh!
There's a blackbird
In my garden
Oh!



All comments from YouTube:

@gemmaperez2067

I've been searching for this song for 7-8 years. I once saw the videoclip and never forgot the song. I've been searching for this song for ages and never been able to find it... until today!!

@fatfreddysdrop

Choice!

@user-vc6zk2wu4e

Welcome my little brother..

@turkeyeyes8164

This is my jam 💯%. I was out on a bush block for the last 2 years on my own making and selling art from a tiny cabin. This album was on every single morning like clock work as I painted for dear life. Fat Freddys always in my heart. 😊🦋❤️🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

@user-xo2mx5lu3y

If you listen this 2023 you have a great story to tell you made with this song

@konakid548

Thanks dad for playing this song hope you see this comment 😊😊

@racheldoesacrylic4089

my man for 28yrs was called fat Feddy at festivals RIP micky BOD 2022 x

@cakayalnz2889

I try to understand how such a good track is watched so little

@ungehemd

this is good. not everybody can understand it or feel it. its for chosen people. not for everyone. its something special

@e-sportsorganization8082

its because we live in idiocracy nowadays.. a stolen track from Nicki Minaj - Anaconda 1 mld views..

More Comments

More Versions