- Hardcover: 144 pages
- Publisher: WW Norton (Sep 24 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0393020495
- ISBN-13: 978-0393020496
- Product Dimensions: 24.3 x 16.5 x 2.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #534,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
It is nearly impossible to scan any of Paul McCartney's lyrics without hearing the Beatles' music in the background, dictating rhythm, pace, and mood. But as Blackbird Singing demonstrates, the effort is worth making. This first collection brings together early and late poems, along with some of Sir Paul's greatest hits (including the words to "Yesterday," "Lady Madonna," "Penny Lane," and "Hey Jude.") In his introduction, editor and fellow Liverpudlian Adrian Mitchell urges readers to "wash out the name and the fame" and examine what's on the page. If you can do this, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
True, some of the lyrics appear trite on paper--"Heart of the Country" and "Mull of Kintyre" are notable offenders. Even "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" seems naked and frail without the rousing brass section. But McCartney's deeper vulnerability comes to the surface in "Dinner Tickets," a poem about his childhood. And "Standing Stone" recounts a gutsy fable about a man using the power of imagination to fend off the enemy: he erects a standing stone, "a weathered finger to the sky" and learns to be "at peace with peace." "Irish Language" boasts a rare streak of irony as the narrator admires the way "those Irish chappies" swill the language around in their mouths and dribble it through their fingers. The song ends with a beautifully timed punch line: "The Beatles were a bunch of Micks." Blackbird Singing closes with poems dedicated to the author's late wife that are tender, sparse, and startlingly honest. --Cherry Smyth
From Publishers Weekly
Sir Paul McCartney painter, composer and songwriter (even the Queen taps her feet to "Penny Lane") has been steadily writing poetry along with the lyrics memorized by much of the world. British political poet and satirist Adrian Mitchell (who is well-known over there, and best represented by Heart on the Left: Selected Poems 1953-1984 over here) worked as a Daily Mail pop critic in 1963 and published the first national interview with the Beatles, remaining friends with McCartney since. In consultation with Sir Paul, he has selected from among McCartney's works. There are the grand and expected songs, such as "Hey Jude," "Yesterday" and "Eleanor Rigby"; ditties like "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" and surreal oddities like "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window"; elegies for McCartney's wife, Linda Eastman McCartney, and for friend Ivan Vaughan; and a variety of verse, such as "To Find the Joy": "Seagulls spiral whirl/ Against the sullen oak/ No scientific thought informs/ Their madcap tribal swirl." As Mitchell writes: "Clean out your head. Wash out the name and the fame. Read these clear words and listen to them decide for yourself." (Apr. 23) Forecast: While McCartney is of a completely different cast than Bob Dylan, his appeal may be even greater than that of the latter great poet/songwriter. Expect strong and steady sales after a solid showing on bestseller lists. Mitchell's latest collection, All Shook Up: Poems 1997-2000, is due this month and includes "Gourmet Architecture, Troy, New York": "It might take a year or two/ But, with its cherry-red perfect bricks/ United by vanilla ice cement/ I could eat the Marine Midland Bank." (Bloodaxe [Dufour, dist.], $19.95 paper 128p ISBN 1-85224-513-1.
-, $19.95 paper 128p ISBN 1-85224-513-1)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
-, $19.95 paper 128p ISBN 1-85224-513-1)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A SENSORY TREASURE - WORK OF A LITERARY VIRTUOSO,
By
This review is from: Blackbird Singing (Hardcover)
This book is a real gem. I love it.Paul McCartney, a gifted artist whose talents span several different media (composing, musical prowess, painting/drawing, ability to play several musical instruments, singing and writing) as this book plainly demonstrates. His voice is a strong and lyrical one; it is interesting to note that he has included several of his songs in this collection as well. Stripping the songs of the melody and notes, one can imagine the rhythm and flow of the words. A master communicator, Paul McCartney writes poetry in the manner of the true virtuoso. He plays upon the full range of senses and his work elicits the full range of emotions. One poem in particular about a good friend who was born the same day as he was and who died young stands in poignant contrast to many of the other works included in this collection. This is truly a rare and valuable gem. This book commands respect. It is definitely a must have.
5.0 out of 5 stars
McCartney is a musician, but his words are pure poetry...,
By
This review is from: Blackbird Singing (Paperback)
This book looks like very little on the surface, especially if you know by heart (or own) the lyrics to many Beatles/McCartney songs. But this anthology is more than just lyrics, because the short selection of lyrics that were edited into this are ones that look and sound like poems. Actually there are many new (and many ones I had never read) poems in here, and most are not even songs ("Mother Nature's Son", "Here, There, and Everywhere", "For No One", and "Helter Skelter" aren't to be found in this). Therefore, it is a moving collection of poignant, amusing, and insightful poetry by a master lyricist with feeling. Although Lennon may have written the most notorious Beatles compositions, McCartney proves that he was the Beatle with the gift of both words and emotion.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Book!,
By Lucy (Dearborn, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blackbird Singing (Hardcover)
Blackbird Singing is a wonderful book. I always like Paul's music. After I read this book, I like his words, too. Peoplealways say John wrote good lyrics and Paul wrote good music. But I found out Paul could write very good lyrics and poems. They are just simple and beautiful, such as "Ivan", "Dinner Tickets", "Eleanor Rigby", "Yesterday", and etc. They are just fantastic words no matter you read or sing them. One thing I only can say is Paul should include more his poems and song lyrics in this book, such as "All My Loving", "Get Back", ...... I recommend everyone likes music or literature should read this book - "Blackbird Singing". What a wonderful book! Thanks Paul!
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