Bye Bye Blackbird

Written by Ray HendersonMort Dixon

Album This song officially appears on the Kisses On the Bottom Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 2012

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions



Related interviews


Ich lag auf dem Teppich und lauschte

Jan 26, 2012 • From Die Zeit


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Song facts

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

Last updated on November 1, 2020

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


Kisses On the Bottom

Official album • Released in 2012

4:26 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano, Rhythm arrangement
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
Robert Hurst :
Bass
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
London Symphony Orchestra :
Orchestra
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Roman Simovic :
Concertmaster
Sam Okell :
Assistant engineer (?)
Paul Pritchard :
Assistant engineer (?)
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Steve Genewick :
Additional engineering
Gordon Davidson :
Assistant engineer (?)
Fernando Lodeiro :
Assistant engineer
Elliot Scheiner :
Additional engineering
Brian Montgomery :
Additional engineering
Kris Burton :
Assistant engineer (?)

Session Recording:
May 2011 ?
Studio :
Avatar Studios, New York, USA

Session Orchestra overdubs:
October 2011 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


Kisses On the Bottom (Deluxe version)

Official album • Released in 2012

4:26 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano, Rhythm arrangement
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
Robert Hurst :
Bass
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
London Symphony Orchestra :
Orchestra
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Roman Simovic :
Concertmaster
Sam Okell :
Assistant engineer (?)
Paul Pritchard :
Assistant engineer (?)
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Steve Genewick :
Additional engineering
Gordon Davidson :
Assistant engineer (?)
Fernando Lodeiro :
Assistant engineer
Elliot Scheiner :
Additional engineering
Brian Montgomery :
Additional engineering
Kris Burton :
Assistant engineer (?)

Session Recording:
May 2011 ?
Studio :
Avatar Studios, New York, USA

Session Orchestra overdubs:
October 2011 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


iTunes Live from Capitol Studios

Official live • Released in 2012

4:44 • LiveL1

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra conductor
John Clayton :
Bass
Anthony Wilson :
Guitar
Gayle Levant :
Harp
Joel Derouin :
Violin
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vanessa Freebairn-Smith :
Principal cellist
Jodi Burnett :
Cello
Songa Lee :
Violin
Katia Popov :
Violin
Michele Richards :
Violin
Kathleen Sloan :
Violin
Marcy Vaj :
Concertmaster
Josefina Vergara :
Violin
Rob Brophy :
Viola
Rudy Stein :
Cello
Sid Page :
Violin
Mario DeLeon :
Violin
Henry Gronnier :
Violin
Tammy Hatwan :
Violin
Serena McKinney :
Violin
Evan Wilson :
Principal violist
Thomas Diener :
Viola
Leah Katz :
Viola
Jennifer Kuhn :
Cello

Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012


Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses

Official album • Released in 2012

4:26 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano, Rhythm arrangement
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
Robert Hurst :
Bass
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
London Symphony Orchestra :
Orchestra
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Roman Simovic :
Concertmaster
Sam Okell :
Assistant engineer (?)
Paul Pritchard :
Assistant engineer (?)
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Steve Genewick :
Additional engineering
Gordon Davidson :
Assistant engineer (?)
Fernando Lodeiro :
Assistant engineer
Elliot Scheiner :
Additional engineering
Brian Montgomery :
Additional engineering
Kris Burton :
Assistant engineer (?)

Session Recording:
May 2011 ?
Studio :
Avatar Studios, New York, USA

Session Orchestra overdubs:
October 2011 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses

Official album • Released in 2012

4:45 • LiveL1 • Live From Capitol Studios

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra conductor
John Clayton :
Bass
Anthony Wilson :
Guitar
Gayle Levant :
Harp
Joel Derouin :
Violin
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vanessa Freebairn-Smith :
Principal cellist
Jodi Burnett :
Cello
Songa Lee :
Violin
Katia Popov :
Violin
Michele Richards :
Violin
Kathleen Sloan :
Violin
Marcy Vaj :
Concertmaster
Josefina Vergara :
Violin
Rob Brophy :
Viola
Rudy Stein :
Cello
Sid Page :
Violin
Mario DeLeon :
Violin
Henry Gronnier :
Violin
Tammy Hatwan :
Violin
Serena McKinney :
Violin
Evan Wilson :
Principal violist
Thomas Diener :
Viola
Leah Katz :
Viola
Jennifer Kuhn :
Cello

Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012

Bootlegs


Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2015

4:26 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano, Rhythm arrangement
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
Robert Hurst :
Bass
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
London Symphony Orchestra :
Orchestra
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Roman Simovic :
Concertmaster
Sam Okell :
Assistant engineer (?)
Paul Pritchard :
Assistant engineer (?)
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Steve Genewick :
Additional engineering
Gordon Davidson :
Assistant engineer (?)
Fernando Lodeiro :
Assistant engineer
Elliot Scheiner :
Additional engineering
Brian Montgomery :
Additional engineering
Kris Burton :
Assistant engineer (?)

Session Recording:
May 2011 ?
Studio :
Avatar Studios, New York, USA

Session Orchestra overdubs:
October 2011 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2015

4:45 • LiveL1

Paul McCartney :
Vocals
Tommy LiPuma :
Producer
Diana Krall :
Piano
Karriem Riggins :
Drums
John Pizzarelli :
Guitar
Alan Broadbent :
Orchestra conductor
John Clayton :
Bass
Anthony Wilson :
Guitar
Gayle Levant :
Harp
Joel Derouin :
Violin
Al Schmitt :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vanessa Freebairn-Smith :
Principal cellist
Jodi Burnett :
Cello
Songa Lee :
Violin
Katia Popov :
Violin
Michele Richards :
Violin
Kathleen Sloan :
Violin
Marcy Vaj :
Concertmaster
Josefina Vergara :
Violin
Rob Brophy :
Viola
Rudy Stein :
Cello
Sid Page :
Violin
Mario DeLeon :
Violin
Henry Gronnier :
Violin
Tammy Hatwan :
Violin
Serena McKinney :
Violin
Evan Wilson :
Principal violist
Thomas Diener :
Viola
Leah Katz :
Viola
Jennifer Kuhn :
Cello

Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012

Live performances

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

Latest concerts where Bye Bye Blackbird has been played


Live From Capitol Studios

Feb 09, 2012 • USA • Los Angeles • Capitol Records Building

Contribute!

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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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