bye bye blackbird

During the brief time that they were a songwriting team, lyricist Mort Dixon and composer Ray Henderson had one big hit. 'Bye Bye Blackbird' was first published in 1926. That year alone saw the charting of four different versions by Gene Austin, Nick Lucas, Benny Kruger, and Leo Reisman. It has become a standard, with numerous versions recorded. Often only the chorus is sung, which has led to some confusion over the meaning of the song.








Gene Austin took it to number one.





Peggy Lee from 'Songs from Pete Kelly's Blues'





Miles Davis did several versions of the song, this one with his quintet including John Coltrane from '‘Round About Midnight'.





Etta Jones' version included Frank Wess on flute.





Nina Simone





Liza Minnelli





Ringo Starr





Joe Cocker





Sammy Davis Jr





Shirley Bassey





Dean Martin

Julie London

Chet Baker

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.