Learning Journal Activity - Song Analysis

BLACKBIRD - THE BEATLES ( 1968)

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.

FORM

The stanza arrangement in this song goes from two consecutive quatrains, to two couplets and concludes with the final stanza being a sestet. The song consists of many refrains to reinforce the content of the lyrics (which will be discussed below), and in fact most of the song is at least in part a refrain. The first two stanzas are almost entirely repetition but by changing only 5 of the words additional meaning is brought to the song. Stanzas 3 and 4 are an example of refrain which repeat entire stanzas and stanza 5 is a repetition of stanza one where the final line is being repeated an additional two times. This particular song is not enjambed and sentences conclude at the end of lines, making it an end-stopped song. The meter of the song holds a sort of pattern, the first two stanzas having a syllable count of 9,9,3,13. Stanzas 3 and 4 change it up with a syllable count of 6,9. Finally in the last stanza there is a syllable count of 9,9,3,13,13,13. This is very similar to stanzas 1 and 2 but due to the refrain at the end of the song there are two extra lines. 

STYLISTIC ELEMENTS

The song Blackbird has a very delicate tone to it, but grows to become more overpowering at certain parts and I think this is totally relevant to who the speaker is talking to. The speaker in this case would be a person during the civil rights movement who was looking in from the outside. The addressee would be a black person struggling at the time for equality and the ability to overcome racial differences. This song is loaded with symbolism and deeper meaning than may be perceived by the lyrics which is one of the reasons it has become one of my favourite songs. The blackbird, who has been portrayed as battered (broken wings) and at a loss for hope (sunken eyes), is symbolic of the African-American struggle for civil rights particularly during the 1950’s and 60’s. The speaker, in telling the blackbird to fly, is symbolically supporting the African-American struggle for equality and promoting their success.  

CONTENT

This song was extremely significant in its time because being in the public eye The Beatles really did hold a lot of influence over the public and their fans. Through their lyrics they supported the African-American struggle against segregations and inequality among race, something that was not as common for a white group to do. Although there was a meaning being these lyrics, the use of metaphor allows for alternate interpretation to the song, and the application of its message to many parts of life. Without the historical and political context of the song it is easy to apply it to any situation in life, and is an inspirational song for allowing yourself to get over certain issues or fears you are having. I love this song because it is so simple yet so deep at the same time, and it is just peaceful to listen to. I don’t think another group could cover this song and be as successful at making it meaningful. The time in which it was written and the fact that such a well known and idolized group recorded and released it at the time of civil unrest and racial tensions in the United States bring greater meaning to the song.