Bye Bye Blackbird

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"Bye Bye Blackbird" is a song published in 1926 by the American composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon. It is considered a popular standard and was first recorded by Gene Austin in 1926.^[1] It was the No. 16 song of 1926 according to Pop Culture Madness.^[2] John Coltrane won the 1981 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist for his rendition of the song.^[3] Recordings of the song often include only the chorus; the verses are far less known.^[4]

There is much speculation about the meaning of the song.^[5] At least two commentators (using the same source) attribute the song to a prostitute's leaving the business and going home to her mother.^[6][7] As such, it is the opposite of "House of the Rising Sun", where the prostitute returns to the business.^[8] The reason for the song's apparent ambiguity is that the opening verse and the verses about the bluebird are rarely sung. See, for example, this listing at lyricsplayground

The song was also copied by "Charlie and His Orchestra," German Karl Schwedler, of "The Templin Band" during World War II as part of Joseph Goebbel's propaganda campaign. But, the lyrics were changed to reflect the German political rhetoric of the time and intended to demoralize the Allied forces. The tune(s) were sung in English and aimed at United States and British troops, as well as British citizens. The song and melody were not permitted to be played in National Socialist Germany because Nazi leadership forbade progressive styles of music like jazz.^{[citation needed]}

"Bye Bye Blackbird" has been recorded by many artists, including Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Trini Lopez, Mitch Miller, Ringo Starr (album Sentimental Journey), Miles Davis^[9], Rickie Lee Jones, Martha Wainwright, Keith Jarrett^[10], Liza Minnelli^[11], Chelsea Krombach^[12], Peggy Lee, Dean Martin, Joe Cocker and Tiny Tim. Ben Webster & Oscar Peterson recorded an instrumental of the song(1959)^[13]. Mark Weber recorded the song for his 2008 album, "When I Fall In Love."

It has been featured in the soundtracks of at least seven movies since 1969, including Sleepless in Seattle^[14] and The History Boys, where it is performed by Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker, ^[15] The song features in the 1980 movie Melvin and Howard, with Jason Robards, Jr. as Howard Hughes singing the chorus, as a western swing version of the song covers the closing credits.^[16]

The song is featured in the Tony-winning Broadway musical revue "Fosse," which showcases the choreography of the late Bob Fosse. Fosse originally included the song in Liza Minnelli's Emmy-winning 1972 television concert film "Liza with a Z," which Fosse directed, produced and choreographed.

The song is given a fictional, mystical importance in Theodore Roszak's novel Flicker.^{[17][broken citation]} In E.L. Doctorow's Billy Bathgate, the mafia victim sings the song on his final voyage through New York harbor in cement shoes.

"Bye Bye Blackbird" was a background theme for the 2009 film, Public Enemies with Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Marion Cottilard as Billie Frechette. In the final scene of the film an officer tells Billie, now in prison, that he knelt to hear John's final words. Those words were: "Tell Billie for me: 'Bye, Bye, Blackbird'".

The song also appeared in 1968 movie Anzio, and an episode of Mad Men.

See also

• List of 1920s jazz standards

References