This blog was formerly dedicated in 2009 to my Dad who died of Alzheimer's in 2013. It's been three years now...and I find myself missing blogging...so I am re-inventing my blog... because, after all, life is about moving through, and going forward...

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Bye Bye Blackbird...


When I was a little baby, and throughout my life, my Dad would sing Bye, Bye Blackbird, to me.  It was our special song.  He used to tell me, I would be crying and fussing, and when he sang it to me, I stopped and listened to him with a big smile.

It was the music we danced to at my wedding, for my Father of the Bride dance.

The song was written in 1926 and was very popular.  It was composed by Ray Henderson, an American composer and lyrics by Mort Dixon. Despite controversial interpretations of the song, when Dad sang it to me, all was right in my world. In case you have not heard of it, these are the words... my memories are mostly of just the chorus...

Blackbird, Blackbird, singing the blues all day,
Right outside of my door,
Blackbird, blackbird, gotta be on my way,
Where there's sun shine galore.


Pack up all my care and woe,
Here I go,
Singing low,
Bye, bye, blackbird.


Where some body 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, this is my lucky day,
Now my dreams will come true.

How I would love to hear my Dad sing it to me once more...

6 comments:

Mari said...

What a precious memory. I've never heard that song. I'm going to see if I can find it to listen to.

Donna B. said...

Hi Mari, I think you can google it and then listen to it that way...it is mainly the chorus I remember Dad singing to me..the way he sang it still makes me smile...

Gigi Ann said...

Hi Mari,

I am so sorry to hear about your Dad's illness. Have you ever sang to him, maybe even sing "Bye, Bye, Blackbird" to him?

I know when my mother-in-law was in ICU, one day I was bored and started singing to her and she loved it. The nurse came and closed our door, laughing and said we were to noisy. LOL... It was a very fun day for me with her, one I treasure to this day. I sang alot of old songs I knew she knew, she even said at one point, Tony, her son and my husband, never told me you could sing. I can't but she enjoyed my singing anyway. ;)

Ann

Donna B. said...

Hi Ann, I think you saw my response to Mari, my name is Donna. Thanks for your suggestion. I, like you, am NOT a good singer, but I know my Dad would think my voice is beautiful. I also think he would probably sing along with me, if I got him started. Great idea. Thanks for stopping by my blog...

Kimberly said...

That is so sweet!

It is great to remember such super sweet things.

Donna B. said...

Thanks Kim, all memories with Dad are acutely precious these days. Thanks for stopping by...