Rankin's best-known composition, "Peaceful," was a major hit for Helen Reddy in 1973. He had a major fan in Johnny Carson, who had Rankin appear on "The Tonight Show" more than two dozen times. Carson wrote the liner notes for Rankin's 1967 debut album, "Mind Dusters."
Rankin died June 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. According to his management company, he was diagnosed with lung cancer three weeks earlier.
Blackbird
Kenny Rankin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The song "Blackbird" by Kenny Rankin is a masterpiece of hope and redemption. The song starts off with the image of a Blackbird singing in the dead of night. This bird, a creature of darkness and mystery, serves as a metaphor for the singer's life. He compares himself to this bird, saying, "Take these broken wings and learn to fly." Here, the "broken wings" represent the singer's life, which has been full of challenges and setbacks. However, he believes that he can still learn to fly, despite his brokenness.
The lyrics then continue on to the chorus, where the singer encourages the blackbird to fly "into the light of the dark black night." Here, the darkness represents the struggles and difficulties of life, while the light represents hope and redemption. The singer is urging the bird, and by extension, himself, to break free from the darkness and soar into the light.
In the last verse, the singer repeats the first verse but adds an extra line. He sings, "All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise. You were only waiting for this moment to arise." The repetition emphasizes the importance of this moment of hope and redemption. The singer believes that he has been waiting for this moment his entire life and that it is finally here.
Overall, "Blackbird" is a song about hope, redemption, and the power of the human spirit to overcome the darkness of life. The Blackbird is not just a bird, but a symbol of life's challenges, and the song urges us to keep pushing forward and never give up hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
The blackbird is singing in the middle of the night, when all is quiet and dark.
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
The singer is urging the listener to take their damaged, unworkable wings and figure out how to soar in spite of them.
All your life
Throughout the course of a lifetime...
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
...you've been anticipating the arrival of this specific instant in time, when things would finally fall into place and you could move forward with your life.
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
The artist is encouraging the listener to take their hopeless outlook on life and find a way to see things differently and more positively.
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Like the previous instance of this same line, the singer is once again telling the listener that this is the instant they've been waiting for - the moment of liberation and freedom they've been longing for.
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
The phrase is repeated here as an encouragement or command to the bird to take flight.
Into the light of the dark black night.
The artist is telling the bird to fly off into the mysterious, unknown darkness beyond.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
The song ends the same way as it began, thereby emphasizing the idea that the artist/the listener has been anticipating this one moment for a long time.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
The song ends the same way as it began, thereby emphasizing the idea that the artist/the listener has been anticipating this one moment for a long time.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
The song ends the same way as it began, thereby emphasizing the idea that the singer/the listener has been anticipating this one moment for a long time.
Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carterstanley397
As a guitar player hearing how different his method of picking is and the rhythm, and the way he plays the same notes but in a different position and manner, absolutely amazing. Not to mention the bass being played throughout the whole song, mainly the beginning though is what I’m talking about is my favorite part, gives me chills every time.
@joeyroble7864
Well said❤
@mirammckay4827
This is the BEST version of Blackbird I have heard. SUBLIME.❤
@tinafarrar8350
Even Paul McCartney who wrote this song loved the way Kenny Rankin sang it. Peace be with you, Kenny. We are so lucky to have had you here singing to us!
@aldenstallworth5504
You must read that in the book beyond wealth
@erickborling1302
Isn't this the best version though! Crystal clear perfection. If I were his producer though I would have put my foot down against that plagal cadence ending. "You got this carefree sweet rejuvenating stroller (of a piece) and then BOOM the Randolph Scott amen."
@cicerobev
I was fortunate enough to see Kenny live and sat 10 feet in front of him while he performed Blackbird. Amazing talent gone too soon.
@jennifermerrell1951
Love this version. Danced with my blind father to this piece.
@CetinaCountryCottage
Best rendition of this song EVER!
@debraglynn8356
Voice of an angel.