Blackbird
Maple Bee Lyrics

In the first verse of Maple Bee’s song “Blackbird,” the singer expresses feeling pulled down by the groundswell, lost deep in a cave, and gripping tight to a guide rope, all the while praying for a change. The metaphorical language in these lines suggests that the singer feels stuck or trapped, unable to move forward or find their way out of a difficult situation. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer imagining themselves marching to the frontline and standing still in lines of fire, still reaching for the silence that they hope will bring them relief. Throughout the song, there are references to “folk law,” which seems to represent the beliefs and traditions that some people hold onto in order to make sense of the world. However, the singer suggests that they believe in “other stuff” – perhaps something more individualistic or unconventional.

The chorus of the song is perhaps the most significant and powerful section, with the repeated refrain “to fly, that’s enough.” The singer describes dreaming of holding a blackbird in their palm, seemingly as a symbol of freedom and escape. For the singer, being able to fly (either metaphorically or literally) would be enough to feel truly free and happy, without needing to rely on the beliefs or traditions of others. The final verse brings in the idea of mutual support and protection, with the singer offering to “hide you from destruction” if the other person will “shade me from all pain” and together they can cut the ropes that hold them down.

Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the search for freedom and individuality within a world full of rules, traditions, and challenges. The blackbird represents a symbol of hope and escape, while the repeated refrain emphasizes the importance of finding one’s own way to fly.