Beyoncé Puts a Poignant Twist on the Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’

Beyoncé put her own twist on Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” by adding new lyrics to the classic country song. In “Blackbiird,” her other big cover on Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé did not change any lyrics to the Beatles song. She did, however, send a powerful message in a different way by inviting Black country singers Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts to join her on the track.

The collaboration is especially poignant, when considering the original meaning of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and the racism that is still present in the music industry, particularly in the country music scene. As Beyoncé put it in her introduction for Cowboy Carter:

This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.

The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me.

Here, an overview of what to know about the song, its lyrics, and the significance behind why Beyoncé covered it.

The Original Meaning of “Blackbird”

“Blackbird” originally came out in 1968 and was written by Paul McCartney as a hopeful message to champion the Civil Rights Movement. In September 2018, McCartney spoke to GQ about the song’s origins and how the song was particularly intended to encourage Black girls fighting oppression.

“I was sitting around with my acoustic guitar and I’d heard about the civil rights troubles that were happening in the ’60s in Alabama, Mississippi, Little Rock in particular,” he told GQ. “So that was in my mind, and I just thought it would be really good if I could write something that if it ever reached any of the people going through those problems, it might give them a little bit of hope. So, I wrote ‘Blackbird.’ And in England, a bird is a girl, so I was thinking of a Black girl going through [this], you know, now’s your time to arise, set yourself free, and take these broken wings. One of the nice things about music is that you know a lot of people listening to you are going to take seriously what you’re saying in the song so I’m very proud of the fact that the Beatles’ output is always pretty positive.”

He added: “There’s people out there who are going through some problems. Hopefully, people out there will listen to it and think, ‘oh yeah, it’s not just me alone going through this. This is something and also something I can fix.’”

What the Four Country Singers on “Blackbiird” Said About Beyoncé and the Song

Beyoncé’s collaborators on the track—Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts—all shared Instagram posts expressing excitement and gratitude about being featured on Cowboy Carter.

“‘Take these broken wings and learn to fly,’” Kennedy wrote on Instagram. “I cannot believe it. God is so good. I’m on a @beyonce record. And not on one but TWO songs. You can catch me on those harms on ‘Tyrant’ too! I’ve been in Nashville for almost 8 years chasing this country music dream. There have been a lot of highs and lows along the way and this—being on Beyonce’s album takes the cake. I grew up listening to her music, practicing her runs over and over. Whenever people would ask me, ‘Who’s your dream collab?’ the answer was always Beyonce but it was such a far away dream because BEYONCÉ?! I couldn’t be more thankful. Thank you Beyoncé for shining your light. This album is so important. It will not only change the future of country music but music as a whole and I cannot wait to watch it unfold. Thank you thank you thank you thank you.”

Adell wrote in her post, “I always say Beyoncé raised me. Beyoncé taught me how to be soft but strong. A force of nature. I’ve watched her be forged like metal in the fire of this industry and she remained poised, and grateful. The last two years in Nashville I have kept my head down, counted all my blessings big and small, and tried to perfect this craft of my artistry. When I saw Renaissance last summer, I knew I was NOT working hard enough. I was reminded again watching the Renaissance documentary. I sat in that theatre bawling my eyes out and said out loud, I will work with Beyoncé in 2024. NO IDEA HOW I WAS GONNA DO THAT ???? but I felt it in my bones. Go back through every interview I have done, I get asked a million times ‘who is your dream collab’ and I have answered the same every time. Beyoncé. Thank you Queen Bey for busting these gates wide open with this album. For letting your light spill over onto MY head. I am humbled by the thought. love you mama ????”

You can read all four singers’ Instagram posts below:

The Lyrics to Beyoncé’s “Blackbiird”

The lyrics of “Blackbiird,” Beyoncé’s version, are full of hope. Read them below, via Genius, and also listen to the song.

Verse 1: Beyoncé
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
(You were only waiting for this moment to arise)

Verse 2: Beyoncé

Blackbird singing in the dead of night (Dead of night, night)
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see (Learn to see all of your life)
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Chorus: Beyoncé
Blackbird fly (Blackbird, blackbird, fly, fly, fly, fly)
Blackbird fly (Blackbird, blackbird, fly, fly, fly, fly)
Into the light of a dark, black night

Bridge: Beyoncé

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh

Chorus: Beyoncé

Blackbird fly (Fly)
Blackbird fly (Fly)
Into the light of a dark, black night

Verse 3: Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, and Tanner Adell
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly (Learn to fly, learn to fly)
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Outro: Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, and Beyoncé
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

The Original “Blackbird” Lyrics

Here are the original lyrics by the Beatles, via Genius, along with the song to listen to:

Verse 1
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

Verse 2

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

Chorus
Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light
Of a dark, black night
Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light
Of a dark, black night

Verse 3

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

Outro
You were only waiting
For this moment to arise
You were only waiting
For this moment to arise