Linda Thompson (born Linda Pettifer in Hackney, London, on 23 August 1947) … Read Full Bio ↴Linda Thompson (born Linda Pettifer in Hackney, London, on 23 August 1947) is an English singer-songwriter. One of the most recognised names and voices in the British folk-rock movement of the 1970s and 1980s, she is notable as one-half of Richard & Linda Thompson (with fellow British folk-rock musician, guitarist Richard Thompson to whom she was married for ten years) and later as a solo artist.

Thompson began her singing career in the 1960s, doing advertising jingles for money and singing in folk clubs for enjoyment. She changed her name to Linda Peters, and was romantically linked to Martin Carthy before working with Richard Thompson, whom she married in 1972.

As part of Richard & Linda Thompson, she sang on a string of critically acclaimed albums until a bitter split in 1982. After battling voice problems over the years since, she resurfaced with a solo album in 1996, and has subsequently worked sporadically. Linda and Richard's children Teddy Thompson and Kamila Thompson are both musicians.

In 2007, Thompson released another set of original songs and covers, "Versatile Heart". Like her 2002 album "Fashionably Late", this too was primarily a collaboration with son Teddy Thompson, together with a supporting cast of family and friends.

Her fourth solo album, Won't Be Long Now, was released on 15 October 2013. The album features compositions and backing vocals from Teddy Thompson and his sisters as well as guitar work by Richard Thompson.

If I Were a Bluebird
Linda Thompson Lyrics

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I am but a poor girl,
My misfortunes seem sad
Many months I've been courting
A young sailor lad

I've courted him gaily
By night and by day
But now for a transport

He's gone far away

Oh, if I were a bluebird
I'd whistle and sing
I would light on the vessel my true love sails in
Whilst in the top rigging
I would take the wind west
And I would lie all night long on his lily-white breast

If I were a bluebird

My love's tall and handsome
With every degree
My parents despise him
Because he loves me

But let them despise him
And say what they will
Whilst I've breath in my body
I'll love my lad still

Oh, if I were a bluebird
I'd whistle and sing
I would light on the vessel my true love sails in
Whilst in the top rigging
I would take the wind west
And I would lie all night long on his lily-white breast

If I were a bluebird

They say he'll forget me
When he sails 'round the world
And that in every harbor
There are prettier girls

They say I'll forget too
But I say, not me
My love is forever
It never will cease

Oh, if I were a bluebird
I'd whistle and sing
I would light on the vessel my true love sails in
Whilst in the top rigging
I would take the wind west
And I would lie all night long on his lily-white breast

If I were a bluebird

It's been many a year now
He's been in the New World
They say that he married
A fine Creole girl

Oh, love it is faithless
It's a terrible thing
Oh, love it is killing
Have you felt the pain?

Oh, if I were a bluebird
I'd whistle and sing
I would light on the vessel my true love sails in
Whilst in the top rigging
I would take the wind west
And I would lie all night long on his lily-white breast

If I were a bluebird

If I were a bluebird

If I were a bluebird

Overall Meaning

The song "If I Were a Bluebird" by Linda Thompson tells the story of a young girl who is deeply in love with a sailor boy, but he is forced to sail away on a transport ship. The girl muses on what it would be like to be a bluebird, able to fly and follow her love to any part of the world. Despite the disapproval of her parents and the rumors that her love may forget her or marry someone else, she remains steadfast in her devotion.

The song conveys a sense of longing, freedom, and the pain of separation. The girl desires to be transformed into a bluebird, a symbol of beauty, freedom, and loyalty, so she can sing and fly to the ship where her love is sailing. The lyrics are rich in imagery, conveying a sense of adventure, romance, and the boundless possibilities of love.

The song reflects Linda Thompson's deep interest in traditional English and Celtic folk music. Her love for these musical traditions is evident in her choice of lyrics, melodies, and instrumentation. The song also showcases her powerful voice, which has been praised for its emotional depth and expressive qualities.

Line by Line Meaning

I am but a poor girl,
As a girl with little wealth, my life is challenging

My misfortunes seem sad
My difficulties are unfortunate and pitiable

Many months I've been courting
I have been pursuing a romantic relationship for an extended period of time

A young sailor lad
The person I am courting is a sailor boy

I've courted him gaily
I treated our romantic pursuit with joy and light-heartedness

By night and by day
Both during the day and night, I spent time trying to win his affections

But now for a transport
Sadly, he has enlisted in the military and departed

He's gone far away
He has traveled a great distance and is unreachable

Oh, if I were a bluebird
As a bluebird, I could do the following

I'd whistle and sing
I would happily produce bird-like sounds

I would light on the vessel my true love sails in
I would perch on the boat my sweetheart is aboard

Whilst in the top rigging
From the highest part of the ship

I would take the wind west
I would fly in the direction of the wind to the west

And I would lie all night long on his lily-white breast
I would rest peacefully upon his pale chest throughout the night

My love's tall and handsome
My lover is physically attractive

With every degree
Despite his social standing or superior status than mine

My parents despise him
My parents disapprove of him

Because he loves me
However, he loves me tenderly

But let them despise him
Even if my parents disapprove

And say what they will
Whatever they say

Whilst I've breath in my body
As long as I'm alive

I'll love my lad still
I will continue to love him

They say he'll forget me
Some believe he'll forget me while abroad

When he sails 'round the world
During his voyage around the world

And that in every harbor
They also say that there are more attractive women in every port

There are prettier girls
Girls that are more beautiful than me

But I say, not me
I will never forget him

My love is forever
My love for him is eternal

It never will cease
It will continue indefinitely

It's been many a year now
Years have passed since we were together

He's been in the New World
He relocated to the New World

They say that he married
According to others, he got married

A fine Creole girl
A woman of mixed African ancestry from the Caribbean

Oh, love it is faithless
Love is unreliable

It's a terrible thing
It's an awful thing to experience

Oh, love it is killing
Love can be unbearable

Have you felt the pain?
Do you understand the emotional suffering?

Writer(s): RON SEXSMITH, LINDA THOMPSON

Contributed by Josiah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

Endresgarden1

8y↑5

Traditional song, usually "If I Were A Blackbird." Lovely recording.

Liz Lawley

10y↑5

You need to have known it before you can sing it. Bravo Linda, that was heartbreaking, and beautiful.

Richard Day

7y↑2

Linda is a very special singer xx

Cyril Anderson

10y↑3

Thanks for posting this up. Heard this on NPR this evening, and this is the only place I could find it on Youtube. The last first is so sorrowful and bitter, really gets you.