Blackbird (Beatles song)

"Blackbird"
Cover of the Northern Songs sheet music
Song by the Beatles
from the album The Beatles
Released22 November 1968
Recorded11 June 1968
StudioEMI, London
Genre
Length2:19
LabelApple
Songwriter(s)Lennon–McCartney
Producer(s)George Martin
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Blackbird" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, and performed as a solo piece by McCartney. When discussing the song, McCartney has said that the lyrics were inspired by hearing the call of a blackbird in Rishikesh, India, and by the civil rights movement in the Southern United States.

Widely regarded as one of the best songs by the band, it has been covered by several artists, including Agua De Annique, Judy Collins, Neil Diamond, Billy Preston, Sia, Sarah McLachlan and on the American musical series Glee. In 2024, Beyoncé covered the song for her eighth studio album Cowboy Carter which became the version with the highest placement on the Billboard Hot 100.