"Bye Bye Blackbird"

No personal notes.

"Bye Bye Blackbird" - published in 1926 by the American composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. Recordings of the song often include only the chorus; the verses are far less known.

There is much speculation about the meaning of the song. At least two commentators (using the same source) attribute the song to a prostitute leaving the business and going home to mother. As such, it is the opposite of House of the Rising Sun, where the prostitute returns to the business. The reason for the song's apparent ambiguity is that the opening verse and the verse about the bluebird are rarely sung.

Blackbird, blackbird singing the blues all day
Right outside of my door
Blackbird, blackbird who do you sit and say
There's no sunshine in store
All thru the winter you hung around
Now I begin to feel homeward bound
Blackbird, blackbird gotta be on my way
Where there's sunshine galore

Chorus:
Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
 Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is she
 Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love and understand me
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
 Blackbird, bye bye

Bluebird bluebird calling me far away
I've been longing for you
Bluebird bluebird what do I hear you say
Skies are turning to blue
I'm like a flower that's fading here
Where ev'ry hour is one long tear
Bluebird bluebird this is my lucky day
Now my dreams will come true

(Chorus)