Composer: Paul McCartney
Form: Song
Blackbird
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.
Blackbird 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.
Paul McCartney
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird 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.
Paul McCartney
Analysis
Why am I including this song and what is it about?
This song is composed, written and recorded by The Beatles, Paul McCartney, in 1968, which was the end of the Civil Rights Movement. It is one of the poems/songs we learnt in class. I chose this song because it contains one of the most significant social issue, not only back then but also the society now. This is a protest song, about encouraging black people to stand up from the darkness and fight for their rights, it is the moment for them to break free and rise.
What is the message or the main theme of the song?
The main theme of 'Blackbird' is racism and segregation, specifically describing the segregation between whites and blacks in the US during the civil rights movement.. The main message is to encourage people who are being treated unfairly, discriminated, destroyed, specifically African-American, to fight the darkness, standing up for themselves and to have hope to break free.
What is the tone (emotion) created in the song?
The emotion created in the poem is hope.
What are the language techniques used in the song?
This song is composed, written and recorded by The Beatles, Paul McCartney, in 1968, which was the end of the Civil Rights Movement. It is one of the poems/songs we learnt in class. I chose this song because it contains one of the most significant social issue, not only back then but also the society now. This is a protest song, about encouraging black people to stand up from the darkness and fight for their rights, it is the moment for them to break free and rise.
What is the message or the main theme of the song?
The main theme of 'Blackbird' is racism and segregation, specifically describing the segregation between whites and blacks in the US during the civil rights movement.. The main message is to encourage people who are being treated unfairly, discriminated, destroyed, specifically African-American, to fight the darkness, standing up for themselves and to have hope to break free.
What is the tone (emotion) created in the song?
The emotion created in the poem is hope.
What are the language techniques used in the song?
Technique
Symbolism
Repetition
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Example
Blackbird
Dead of night
Singing
Broken wings
Into the light of the dark black night
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
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Explanation
Blackbird in the poem represents, generally African-Americans and, specifically Black girl as in British slang, 'bird' means 'girl'.
The phrase 'Dead of night' represents the darkness and fear in their hearts, the murderers and the KKK's who destroy their houses and kills them.
The word 'singing' in the poem doesn't literally means singing. It means screaming in the poem. 'Blackbird singing in the dead of night...' represents the image of the 'blacks' screaming around while being murdered and destroyed.
The phrase 'broken wings' in the poem represents the inequality that they face, being socially and mentally broken.
This phrase represents the hope of being a whole and equal as the others.
This phrase is repeated throughout the song, and continuously repeated three times at the last stanza. This emphasize the message of standing up and protest.
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My personal opinion of the song
This song written by Paul McCartney really encourages and gives the strength to the 'victims' to protest. Symbolism does the song well, as it represents the image of the poet's message perfectly. I think this poem really gives hope to the 'victims', and it gives a perfect image of what the 'blacks' are going through. Even though you are destroyed badly and broken, you still can stand up for yourselves, with courage and hope.
This song written by Paul McCartney really encourages and gives the strength to the 'victims' to protest. Symbolism does the song well, as it represents the image of the poet's message perfectly. I think this poem really gives hope to the 'victims', and it gives a perfect image of what the 'blacks' are going through. Even though you are destroyed badly and broken, you still can stand up for yourselves, with courage and hope.