Paul McCartney wrote The Beatles song to fight racism

The only “crime” of these brave nine students was the desire for an equal education, which they would have received if their skin color had been different. The civil rights movement did not reach its “official” conclusion until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, and that same year McCartney wrote “Blackbird”, a song that is often mistaken for being solely about the animal, with many people missing the British double. the meaning of the word “bird” is “girl”. This track is one of the most poignant, and carries an even deeper resonance when one understands its true inspiration.

Discussing his work years later, McCartney once explained: “I meant the black woman, not the bird. These were the days of the civil rights movement, which we all cared about passionately, so it was actually a song addressed to me as a black woman experiencing these problems in the States: “Let me encourage you to keep trying, keep your Faith, there is hope.” As is often the case with my things, the veil was made so that instead of saying, “Black woman living in Little Rock,” and being very specific, it became a bird, it became a symbol, and you could apply it to your particular problem.”

Consisting of just McCartney’s voice, his acoustic guitar and background birdsong, “Blackbird” is a vibrant, minimalist work. The song’s quiet, almost contemplative atmosphere is enhanced by the minimalism of the arrangement, which also emphasizes the lyrical themes. A steady, smooth rhythm created by McCartney’s guitar work anchors the song, allowing the melody to fly.

“I was sitting with my acoustic guitar and hearing about the civil rights issues that were happening in the 60s in Alabama, Mississippi and Little Rock in particular,” McCartney later said. GQ. “I just thought it would be really nice if I could write something that if it ever reaches people going through these issues, it might give them a little bit of hope. So I wrote “Blackbird”.

Two members of the Little Rock Nine were Elizabeth Eckford and Thelma Mothershed Ware. Nearly six decades after cementing their place in the history books, they met Paul McCartney backstage at his 2016 Little Rock concert and were in the crowd to watch the former Beatle dedicate “Blackbird” to them.

When McCartney introduced “Blackbird,” he passionately told the audience, “Back in the sixties, there were a lot of civil rights issues, especially in Little Rock. We would have seen this on the news back in England, so this is a really important place for us because I think this is where civil rights started.”

He added: “We wanted to see what was going on and sympathize with people going through these problems, and that made me want to write a song that, if it ever reached people going through these problems, might just help them.” a little bit, and that’s the next one.”

Although McCartney is not usually a political songwriter, “Blackbird” demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the right side of history. Promoting equality is not inherently political; it is a fundamental human right. By 1968, The Beatles had become more than just a band – they had become a cultural phenomenon with significant influence. McCartney’s support for the civil rights movement strengthened this cause, lending weight to those advocating for justice and equality.

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