Blackbird
Lennon & McCartney Lyrics

The opening to The Beatles’ song “Blackbird” presents us with the image of a blackbird singing in the “dead of night”. The bird is addressed directly, as if it understands the language and sentiment of the human. The call is made for the bird to “take these broken wings and learn to fly”, symbolising a desire to overcome any difficulties that may have been faced. This verse suggests an encouragement towards transformation and growth. The second verse seeks to explore the theme of self-discovery. The blackbird is once again called upon, with the human wishing for their “sunken eyes” to “learn to see”. This represents awakening and self-discovery, as the eyes are a common symbol of a person’s perception and ability to understand the world around them. These two verses are then concluded with the reflections on the experiences of a lifetime, with the human stating that the blackbird has been “waiting for this moment to arise” and “waiting for this moment to be free”. The wish for freedom, independence and light is a common theme in the works of The Beatles.

The chorus of the song, where the bird is called to “fly into the light of a dark black night”, presents us with an ambiguous statement. What is referred to as a “dark black night” may represent a number of things, such as a depressive or repressed state of being. The act of flying towards the light could mean striving towards hope and a better state of being, or otherwise it could be interpreted as an attempt to flee from the unpleasant reality. In any case, the chorus serves to underline the significance of the transformation and growth mentioned previously. The final repetition of the theme “You were only waiting for this moment to be free” functions as a summarising statement, both encouraging and celebratory as it affirms the desire for a fulfilling life.