Night Ark is an instrumental quartet led by Ara Dinkjian, an American of Ar… Read Full Bio ↴Night Ark is an instrumental quartet led by Ara Dinkjian, an American of Armenian descent. The ensemble blends the sounds of the Middle East with elements of rock, pop, jazz, and classical forms of music. The group came together in 1986 after Steve Backer, a producer for RCA, heard a demo of one of Dinkjian's original compositions and promptly issued an invitation to record. After pulling together the quartet, Dinkjian and his crew recorded the albums Moments and Picture. Night Ark next inked a deal with Polygram, which put out the albums In Wonderland and Petals on Your Path. The ensemble has played to sold-out houses in the Middle East and Europe. It has appeared at the Israel Festival, the Yerevan International Jazz Festival, and the Istanbul Jazz Festival. The group's songs utilize such traditional instruments as the saz, the zither, the oud, and the cumbus.
Dinkjian is ranked among the premiere oud players in the world. He was raised on the sounds of jazz, pop, and the music of Armenia. At Connecticut's Hartt College of Music, he earned the first degree granted there in the oud while studying theory and composition. Night Ark also includes Arto Tuncboyaciyan on percussion. He was born in Turkey of Armenian descent, and has worked with such artists as Al DiMeola and Joe Zawinul. Armen Donelian, who is also of Armenian heritage and has worked with Mango Santamaria and Sonny Rollins, plays piano for the group. Rounding out the quartet is Marc Johnson, who previously worked with Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, and Bill Evans, among others. ~ Linda Seida, All Music Guide

Blackbird
Night Ark Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Night Ark's song "Blackbird" are a beautiful metaphor for personal growth and finding hope in times of darkness. The blackbird represents the individual who may feel crippled or destroyed by the world, while the dead of night represents the darkest moments in life. The first verse urges the individual to take their broken wings and learn to fly, indicating that it is possible to overcome adversity and to grow stronger. The second verse encourages one to take sunken eyes, represent a lack of perspective, and to learn to see. Together, these verses urge listeners to rise above their struggles and to see the world with a positive perspective.

The chorus repeats twice, each time urging the blackbird to fly into the light of the dark black night. This repetition is an encouraging reminder that there is always room for growth and change, even in the darkest of times. The final verse reaffirms the message of the previous verses, emphasizing that the individual was always capable of reaching this point of growth and was only waiting for the right moment to arise.

Overall, "Blackbird" is a deeply inspiring song that encourages listeners to find hope in the darkness and to embrace their potential for growth and change.

Line by Line Meaning

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
The blackbird is singing during a time of darkness and stillness.

Take these broken wings and learn to fly
Let go of your past troubles and use them as a catalyst to reach new heights.

All your life
Throughout your lifetime.

You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You have been anticipating this moment for so long and it is finally here.

Black bird singing in the dead of night
The blackbird continues to sing despite the darkness and quietness of the night.

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
Improve your vision and understanding of the world around you despite past hardships.

You were only waiting for this moment to be free
This awaited moment is the key to achieving freedom from past burdens.

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
The blackbird takes flight and leaves its problems behind.

Into the light of the dark black night.
The blackbird flies into the darkness, finding a bright spot amidst it all.

All your life
Throughout your lifetime.

You were only waiting for this moment to arise
This moment has been the goal for your entire life, finally coming to fruition.