Bye Bye Blackbird- Saturday Soundtrack

I've read that when Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon wrote this song in 1926 they were telling the story of a prostitute leaving that sad life and returning home to her mother. In several versions of the song that idea really comes through, but not in the two versions I like the most. The first is by Miles Davis. I don't know when it was recorded but I like it more than his famous 1956 recording. This one is pitched a little higher and has a faster tempo, typical of Davis' later years.




Joe Cocker's version of the song, though famous for the electric guitar solo also has a trumpet connection. In one of those so weird it has to be true stories, Cocker used to own a burlesque theater in Canada with Phil Driscoll.




Here are the original lyrics.

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

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

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