He and his family moved to Kingussie, Speyside, Scotland when he was 10. One of his teachers introduced him to the Great Highland Bagpipe. Within two years Martyn was winning prizes in many of the junior piping competitions around Scotland. He then took up violin, piano and composing at the age of 15 at the City of Edinburgh Music School, continuing his studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1990.
In 1993, just before graduating, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which he related to the suffocating and stressful environment of the Classical world where "enjoyment of the music [...] was out-weighed by the pressure to succeed" [1]. In 1994 he began to spend more time with his first musical love, folk and traditional, and it was not much later that he started to experiment with electronica. He performed at the world premiere party for the film Braveheart.
In 1996, he released his first self-titled album on Eclectic Records. In 1998 he released Bothy Culture, his most successful album. In 2000, just a few months after a highly acclaimed headlining set at the Cambridge Folk Festival, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
He died on January 30, 2005, following a long struggle with cancer.
Blackbird
Martyn Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me
The lyrics of Martyn Bennett's "Blackbird" tell a story of unrequited love and longing. The singer hears a voice that reminds her of her beloved Willy, and expresses a desire to be able to fly to him and hold him in her arms. She reminisces about a time when Willy followed her through all kinds of weather, but now that she has grown older and her apron hangs higher, he passes her by without even noticing her. The singer then makes a comparison between a blackbird that everyone says is blind, yet it still sings, and her own true love who seems to be blind to her feelings for him.
The song paints a poignant picture of someone who has loved and lost, and is left with nothing but memories and unfulfilled desires. The blackbird serves as a symbol of hope in this bleak landscape, reminding the singer that there is still beauty and joy to be found, even in the midst of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
The singer is struck by the beauty and power of the voice they hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
The voice reminds the singer of their beloved Willy
But if I had wings like that swallow high
The singer wishes they could fly like a swallow
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
If they could fly, they would embrace their lover Billy
When my apron it hung low
In the past, the singer's lover always followed them closely
My true love followed through frost and snow
Even in difficult times, the singer's lover remained dedicated
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
Now things have changed, and the singer's apron is higher up
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in
But their lover no longer pays attention to them
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
There is a blackbird perched on a distant tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some people believe the blackbird is blind
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some people believe the blackbird is blind
And so is my true love tae me
The singer's lover is also blind to their presence and feelings
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LIZZIE HIGGINS, MARTYN BENNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RahulVerma-wd7if
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me
@anklesoft
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me
@Chunthala
Lyrics --
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy.
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow.
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in.
It is up and doon yon white hoose brae
He called a strange girlie to his knee
And he's telt her a tale that he once told me.
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me.
O I wish I wish Oh I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
But a maid again I will never be
Till apples grow an orange tree
I wish I wish that my babe was born
And smiling on some nurse's knee
And for myself to be dead and gone
And-a long green grass growing over me.
@NeoFusedGames
She's singing english, its just the way she sings it
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me
Sing along
Merry Christmas to all
@koborkutya7338
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow
And noo…
@mahimulislam
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy.
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy.
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow.
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in.
It is up and doon yon white hoose brae
He called a strange girlie to his knee
And he's telt her a tale that he once told me.
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me.
@cswapnil
Lyrics are english but the dialect is different
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willy dear
But if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms o' my Billy boy
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow
And noo my apron it is tae my chin
He passes me by and he ne'er spiers in
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And so is my true love tae me
@chandreuvijay
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear
It's like the voice of my Willie dear
An if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms of ma Billy boy
When my apron it hung low
My love true love followed through frost and snow
Bet now my apron is tae ma chin
He passes me by and he'll ne'er speir' in
It's up and to yon white hoose grey
He's called a strange girlie to his knee
An he's telt her a tale that he's once told me
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And that's what my true love's tae me
Source:
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/higgins.htm
@kinderjoker
Goosebumps all the way. This track doesn't exist in my head anymore without the scenery of the highlands. One of the greatest pairings I've ever seen.
@stuartwallace7569
Martyn Bennet was one of the most creative and innovative Scottish musicians of all time, very intelligent and humble with it.. I saw him several times in Stornoway and Glasgow and watched this awesome video with Jeannie Robertson being made. His death in 2005 from Cancer was a tragic loss to Scottish music
@ayewright
Lizzie Higgins - Jeannie's daughter.
@pamelamorrison4086
I spent hours of my childhood, listening to Stanley's story telling as well as Jeanie's singing - cannot tell you how thrilled i am for their talents being recognised, by folk like Martyn. It's wonderful and so very well deserved.
@luisvi92
Thank you for leaving us this beautiful piece of art Martyn. Rest In Peace 🙏🏼
@phantomcamcam9870
I had the pleasure of attending many of Martyn Bennett's gigs before he passed away in 2005. A great guy who always had time to chat to us after the gigs and even took time to share a beer or two as well. The world is an emptier place without him.
@petermatejov2237
I still cannot get how this song is so underrated, it is definitely a hidden gem, sooooo calm and peaceful
@cyberherbalist
This is utterly beautiful! So sad that Lizzie's voice is stilled, this song brought tears to my eyes.
@idaslpdhr
+Mike Clark And martin as well don't forget, Great talent no longer with us.
@SRIVISHNUJOTHIDAM
In my childhood, my mom sing a song named 'Thalattu' which is Tamil, to get me to sleep, surprisingly this song is same as like that.. Awesome. ❤️From India