Origins: Blackbird / If I Was a Blackbird

Subject: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: Mini Me
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 12:26 PM

Dear Catters, In a short time I will be performing the song " If I were a Blackbird " and would love to discuss the songs origin. Can you help me on the background of this song such as : How old the song is, What country the song is from, is the song true or myth, it's meaning, etc. Thank you so much.

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 01:40 PM

It's #387 in Steve Roud's folk song index, but no broadside copy is listed there, and I can't find one on the Bodley Ballads website. Traditional versions are listed in Roud's index from England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, US, and Australia.

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 04:34 PM

Hi, MiniMe -
Here's what I found in the Traditional Ballad Index, which I find to be a good place to start.

Also check this thread (click).
-Joe Offer-

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I Am a Young Maiden (If I Were a Blackbird)

DESCRIPTION: The girl has been courted by a sailor, but now is deserted. She wishes she were a blackbird so she could follow her love. She tells of how her parents' dislike caused her to love him the more. He promised to buy her ribbons, but now has left her
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (Reeves-Circle)
KEYWORDS: separation courting love floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(MA) Ireland Canada(Newf) Britain(England(Lond,SOuth),Scotland)
REFERENCES (8 citations):
FSCatskills 38, "I Am a Young Maiden" (1 text, 1 tune)
SHenry H79, pp. 428-429, "If I Were A Blackbird" (1 text, 1 tune)
OLochlainn 46, "If I Was a Blackbird" (1 text, 1 tune)
Meredith/Anderson, pp. 170-171, "If I Was a Blackbird" (1 text, 1 tune)
Reeves-Circle 74, "If I Was a Blackbird" (1 text)
MacSeegTrav 31, "If I Was a Blackbird" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Blondahl, p. 119, "If I Were a Blackbird" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, (IFBLKBRD -- apparently a reworking of the song from a man's perspective) IFBLKBR2*
Roud #387
RECORDINGS:
Diddy Cook, "The Blackbird" (on Voice15)
Blanche Wood, "I'm a Young Bonnie Lassie" (on FSB1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Wagoner's Lad" (lyrics)
NOTES: Although this song is composed entirely of floating lyrics -- from "The Wagoner's Lad," "Oh, Dear, What Can the Matter Be" and others -- this combination is sufficiently widespread that it must be considered a song in its own right - RBW
Last updated in version 2.7
File: FSC38

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Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: poet
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 06:36 PM

you could try any references that may be under,

Ronny Ronalde 1940s and 50s
If Thats Possible

Graham (Guernsey)

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: GUEST,Chris Flint
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 06:44 PM

Hi Mini Me If this is the same song as "If I was a blackbird" there is a version in The Wanton Seed by Frank Purslow collected in 1906 by Hammond and Gardiner.

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Sep 00 - 07:34 PM

The song appears as No 46 in Colm O Lochlann's 'Irish Street Ballads'. He notes that his source was Dublin street singers about 1920 and afterwards from J.M. Kerrigan.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 03:07 AM

I think JM Kerrigan was Delia Murphy's husband, the Irish Ambassador to the US.

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 12:13 PM

See the recent thread on Man from Mullingar for Delia Murphey's husband's name. Delia Murphey's version of the song is on the LP 'An Tostal', Capitol T10124, Side B, band 4.

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 01:17 PM

Sorry about wrong thread above. See "Heather on the Moor" thread ending Sept. 1 for Delia Murphey's Husband's name (Kiernan)

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From:
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 07:18 PM

quite by chance i came across your request ror info on "if i were a
blackbird " it's bit late anyhow the song was made famous bu a
variety artist by the name of deila murphy 1904 - 1971 , very popular
from it's composistion c1921 untill the sixties althoe still gets
the odd play r2 regards chris wild

Subject: RE: History of the song ' Blackbird '
From: GUEST,Sidewinder.
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 07:29 PM

I know the song "Blackbird" by THE BEATLES and it took me 6 weeks of constant trial and error to work it out 20 years ago - thanks for reminding me of that!

Regards.

Sidewinder.