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Description
This is a cover of Paul McCartney's classic song "Blackbird" from the White Album. I obtained the rights to it before putting it on my latest album, Song of Myself. McCartney was inspired to write it while in Scotland as a reaction to racial tensions escalating in the United States in the spring of 1968. My arrangement also includes a short quote from Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock." It's kind of what made it so fitting for this year's version of MJ's Woodstock. (Sorry no downloads. Part of the license.)
In this arrangement, I wanted to never forget about those fragile wings, those free and joyous Blackbird wings. And never forget about the night, the all-encompassing night. And this moment. Arising. I hope you can see it, as well as hear it.
"Song of Myself" is a collection of my favorite cover songs, just me at my piano. It was a struggle to make, since I had to wait about 2 weeks between recordings because they would take so much out of me. You can read more about it on my website project page www.tobinmueller.com/solo/ or on the CDBaby sell page: Song of Myself. My website project page includes song notes and lyrics (some with changes) to each track.
There is one more connection between the idea of Woodstock and my album: Every year friends of mine from Westport CT hold a Backyard Woodstock at there home. All their musician friends come jam for the day and night. Last year, I was preparing to cover Paul Simon's 1973 masterpiece "American Tune," a song most of my friends had never heard, at the event, as well as play along with several others. It would've been the first time I had "performed" since contracting A1AD and dropping out of all gigs and stress. As life would have it, I got a collapsed lung rehearsing and couldn't perform. It took longer than usual to recover. But I eventually recorded my version in my home. Along with Oh Danny Boy, it became one of the songs that convinced me to come out with an album of my favorite covers.
Sorry I haven't been around MJ much these past years. Loosing one's powers has unexpected consequences. I hope to find myself here more, in time.
For more regarding "Song of Myself," please see the project page on my website: http://www.tobinmueller.com/solo/
Other drafts from "Song of Myself" shared on MacJams include:
Blackbird (by Paul McCartney)
Oh Danny Boy (traditional)
No Place Like Home (a duet: piano/soprano sax)
Before There Were Gods (with Michael Hedges)
Frozen Man (by James Taylor)
In this arrangement, I wanted to never forget about those fragile wings, those free and joyous Blackbird wings. And never forget about the night, the all-encompassing night. And this moment. Arising. I hope you can see it, as well as hear it.
"Song of Myself" is a collection of my favorite cover songs, just me at my piano. It was a struggle to make, since I had to wait about 2 weeks between recordings because they would take so much out of me. You can read more about it on my website project page www.tobinmueller.com/solo/ or on the CDBaby sell page: Song of Myself. My website project page includes song notes and lyrics (some with changes) to each track.
There is one more connection between the idea of Woodstock and my album: Every year friends of mine from Westport CT hold a Backyard Woodstock at there home. All their musician friends come jam for the day and night. Last year, I was preparing to cover Paul Simon's 1973 masterpiece "American Tune," a song most of my friends had never heard, at the event, as well as play along with several others. It would've been the first time I had "performed" since contracting A1AD and dropping out of all gigs and stress. As life would have it, I got a collapsed lung rehearsing and couldn't perform. It took longer than usual to recover. But I eventually recorded my version in my home. Along with Oh Danny Boy, it became one of the songs that convinced me to come out with an album of my favorite covers.
Sorry I haven't been around MJ much these past years. Loosing one's powers has unexpected consequences. I hope to find myself here more, in time.
For more regarding "Song of Myself," please see the project page on my website: http://www.tobinmueller.com/solo/
Other drafts from "Song of Myself" shared on MacJams include:
Blackbird (by Paul McCartney)
Oh Danny Boy (traditional)
No Place Like Home (a duet: piano/soprano sax)
Before There Were Gods (with Michael Hedges)
Frozen Man (by James Taylor)
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Lyrics
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
(All your life)
Into to light of the dark black night
*We are stardust
*We are golden
*And we have to get ourselves back (this moment)
*To the garden
Black bird fly...
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
...into to light of the dark black night
- lyrics by Paul McCartney
*from WOODSTOCK by Joni Mitchell
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
(All your life)
Into to light of the dark black night
*We are stardust
*We are golden
*And we have to get ourselves back (this moment)
*To the garden
Black bird fly...
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
...into to light of the dark black night
- lyrics by Paul McCartney
*from WOODSTOCK by Joni Mitchell
tokai
Beautifully played piano with a unique take on the vocal. Amazing how such a minimal arrangement has so much depth and quality. The magic is still there.