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Released in 2012

Bye Bye Blackbird

Written by Ray Henderson • Mort Dixon

Last updated on November 1, 2020

Album This song officially appears on the Kisses On the Bottom Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2012

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interviews

“Bye, Bye, Blackbird” is a 1926 song written by the American composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. It is considered a popular standard and was first recorded by Gene Austin in 1926. Ringo Starr recorded it in 1970 for his album “Sentimental Journey“, and Paul McCartney covered it on his 2012 album “Kisses On The Bottom“.

[All those old songs,] I never learned how to play them. All I ever did was sing them, at the family sing-songs. They’re quite complicated, the chords and things. I’d have a bash, and I did eventually become the sort of family piano player, at New Year, as my Dad got a bit older and I got a bit more capable. But I was always busking it; he knew the real chords, and I had to busk my way around. But it was good enough for the family sing-song. A lot of these songs, like Bye Bye Blackbird, were ones that I’d sung along with.

Paul McCartney – from the “Kisses On The Bottom” liner notes

I do think [those old songs] did have quite an influence on [John Lennon and I] melodically. A lot of these old songs had what they called a “verse”. Anyone else would call it an introduction. It’s always the bit that you never knew. […]

Then it goes, “Pack up all my cares and woe” and you go, “Oh, I know this song!” You finally recognise it. John and I liked that. We used to talk about that as one of things it would be good to do. We gave a kind of nod to it on Here,There And Everywhere: “To lead a better life, I need my love to be here … ” Whereas in the old days they would have extended that: “She was here, and I was there, and I think she’s everywhere … “

Paul McCartney – from the “Kisses On The Bottom” liner notes

Lyrics

Blackbird, blackbird singing the blues all day

Right outside my door

Blackbird, blackbird gotta be on my way

To where the sun shines once more

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 or understand me

Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me

Now make my bed and light the light

I'll arrive late tonight

Blackbird, bye, bye

~ SOLO ~

No one here can love or understand me

Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me

Make my bed and light the light

‘Cause I'll be home late tonight

Blackbird, oh blackbird ooh

Blackbird

Bye, bye

Variations

  • A Cover from "Kisses On The Bottom"
  • L1 Live from Capitol Studios

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Videos

Album Kisses On the Bottom

Live performances

“Bye Bye Blackbird” has been played in 1 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Bye Bye Blackbird” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012

This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.

The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.

Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

Buy on Amazon

Paul McCartney writing

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Keith R • 5 years ago

The best version I know of "Bye Bye Blackbird" is in "Liza With a Z" (available on You Tube)

The PaulMcCartney Project • 5 years ago

Thanks Keith - will listen to it !

Philip Mortlock • 1 year ago

the string arrangements on this song/album are simply devine. a melancholy so suited to the songs

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