Blackbird: Challenge of Music Blog Hop

Erin Praiz-Hintz of Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere issued a "Challenge of Music" blog hop that I couldn't resist participating in.  Music has always been a huge part of my life, and is probably the one medium that has spoken loudest to me ever since I can remember.

For this hop, we were to choose a song that is meaningful to us and create a piece of jewelry that expresses something about that song.  The song I chose is "Blackbird":

"Blackbird"
Made using a hand-etched and soldered copper bezel patinaed with white patina from MissFickleMedia on Etsy, handmade fused glass cabochon, beautiful lampwork beads from Firebabies on Etsy, a handmade clasp and a bit of etched copper chain and recycled sari silk.

"Blackbird was originally written by Paul McCartney for the Beatles after reading about the race riots in the US.  Here's a piece of an interview he did about the song:

McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008: "We were totally immersed in the whole saga which was unfolding. So I got the idea of using a blackbird as a symbol for a black person. It wasn't necessarily a black 'bird', but it works that way, as much as then you called girls 'birds'; the Everlys had had Bird Dog, so the word 'bird' was around. 'Take these broken wings' was very much in my mind, but it wasn't exactly an ornithological ditty; it was purposely symbolic."

When I first heard this song, it touched me so deeply, but not in the way the Beatles intended.  These lines: 

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

have such a graphic quality to me.  I love the idea of someone broken who can still fly free - it is so much in line with the philosophy behind my blog and my life.

The version you are listening to now by Sarah McLachlan completely mesmerizes me - it is so haunting and clear and without pretense - so beautiful.

Here are the complete lyrics for you:

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

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

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night

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

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

I hope you enjoyed the song and the reasons behind why I chose it for my inspiration in this hop.  You can find a list of the other wonderful participants on Erin's blog, Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere!

Happy Hopping!