Songbird

Today has been a really great day!

I had a solo bike ride outside the city (first one of the year!), then a date at a country music show with my sweety, plus we had time with our meditation group this morning and conversations with our lovelies throughout the day.

Birthdays are a time to celebrate and also to stop and take stock of one’s life. As I awoke this morning, I did a few routines. I then settled to listen to songs on random play by such artists as American singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith (1953-2021) and Fleetwood Mac (specifically today’s selection, sung by English singer-songwriter and band member Christine McVie, 1943-2022), then “I Will Follow You into the Dark” by the American indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, a solo acoustic ballad about death and afterlife. Listening to those two recently-passed female singers in particular reminded me so strongly of how precious and fragile life is and that we are coming ever closer to the end of this life as we age.

That feeling is especially poignant on the tenth anniversary of the death of one of my son’s friends, a young man who passed suddenly due to a heart condition while out on a run. (Please see my post on Dave Matthews’ “Gravedigger” for more here about Alex and the heart-rending tribute his bandmates sang at his funeral.)

“For you, there’ll be no more crying
For you, the sun will be shining
And I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right

To you, I’ll give the world
To you, I’ll never be cold
‘Cause I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right

And the songbirds are singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before

And I wish you all the love in the world
But most of all, I wish it from myself

And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before
Like never before
Like never before”

“Songbird,” by Christine McVie.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com.

I found an online article from American Songwriter magazine about McVie’s inspiration for the song, which came to her in the night: “The ambiguity of ‘Songbird’ captures the selflessness of love—for someone or one’s self. McVie insisted that the song was never about anyone, or anything, in particular. ‘It doesn’t really relate to anybody in particular; it relates to everybody,’ said McVie in a 2017 interview on the meaning of the song.’ A lot of people play it at their weddings or at bar mitzvahs or at their dog’s funeral. It’s universal. It’s about you and nobody else. It’s about you and everybody else. That’s how I like to write songs.'”

Today’s selection is the fifth song I’ve posted by Fleetwood Mac and the fourth I’ve featured from their iconic album Rumours (1977). “Songbird” strays from the often conflict-ridden—but remarkable nonetheless—song themes throughout much of that album… it’s a truly gorgeous song.

So, it was a great day today. The sun was shining, and there was fun and love and life. What more could one ask for?

Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here. Please enjoy the audio from the Fleetwood Mac YouTube channel:

With warm wishes,

Steve