Tag: red-winged blackbird

Writer: David Francey
Performer: David Francey
Country of Origin: Canada

I’m on a mission. Luckily for me, not an impossible one.

I aim to find every song that makes reference to a bird at the species level. So I don’t mean ‘crow’, or ‘sparrow’, or ‘bluebird’. Those are more akin to family names, biologically speaking (in strict terms, that’s not entirely accurate either, but you know what I’m getting at).

For the record, I will be considering those more general bird references in future posts. There will be a lot to cover, so stay tuned, folks.

Right now, though, I’m talking about songs like this:

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song, sounds like she’s singin’
“Ooh, ooh, ooh”

That, of course, is the opening stanza from ‘Edge of Seventeen’ by Stevie Nicks. In that early 80s classic, Nicks isn’t simply referencing a ‘dove’. She’s specifically talking about the White-winged Dove, which is exactly what I’m talking about.

I might get into that song somewhere down the road, but today I’m here for a song that, until very recently, I was completely unfamiliar with. I found this one while searching on Spotify for ‘bird songs’ or something along those lines. At or near the top of Spotify’s list was something called ‘Red-winged Blackbird’. 

The name of the artist behind the song – David Francey – was vaguely familiar. I listen to a decent amount of folk and folk-adjacent music, so perhaps his name had shown up on Spotify as a recommendation some time in the past. But the song itself: that was entirely new to me.

Super curious, I immediately gave the song a listen. With a title like ‘Red-winged Blackbird’, I did make the perhaps silly assumption that the song would take some sort of metaphorical approach to the titular bird.

Wow, was I ever mistaken! This little number goes way beyond a mere mention: the entire song is about the Red-winged Blackbird. Or at least it’s about the calls of one.

This is a really fantastic song. It’s simple and to-the-point. The guitar work and vocals are lovely. Francey’s Scottish accent is distinct and ear-catching. I’m not sure why, but I always like to hear a singer’s accent when they sing.

There might be a bit of room for interpretation in the lyrics, but not much. At its core, it’s really just about someone hearing the calls of a Red-winged Blackbird and recognizing those calls as a harbinger of spring.

Here’s the chorus and first verse:

Thought I heard a red-winged blackbird
Red-winged blackbird down my road
Thought I heard a red-winged blackbird
Red-winged blackbird down my road

He’ll be there beside the river
When winter finally breaks its bones
He’ll be king among the rushes
He’ll be master of his home

I would call that a pretty accurate description of a male Red-winged Blackbird staking out his territory in early spring.

Across much of the U.S., Red-winged Blackbirds are year-round residents. But for those of us who live in southern Canada or some of the northernmost states, their calls have a strong springtime association. Along with Common Grackles, they’re often some of the first migrants to shown up en masse in late winter and early spring. Every year, they’re a reliable addition to my eBird checklists by mid-March at the latest.

By all means, give this tune a listen. If you’re at all inclined towards the folksy side of music, I think you’ll enjoy it. You don’t need Spotify or any other streaming service. There’s a high quality upload on YouTube, posted by Francey himself:

Originally from Scotland, he moved to Canada with his family when he was twelve. A lifelong poet, singer, and blue collar advocate, he didn’t release his first album until he was in his forties. That was ‘Torn Screen Door’ in 1999. Which just happens to be the album on which ‘Red-winged Blackbird’ appears.

If you’re interested in learning more about Francey, I’d suggest checking out his website. There’s plenty of great info there. Here’s a link.

Alright, I’m off in search of more bird-themed songs.

Cheers!