If you’ve spent any time listening to Cowboy Carter, you’ve probably had that "wait, is that a Beatles song?" moment about two tracks in. It’s "BLACKBIIRD." Yes, with the double 'i' because everything in this era is about Act II.
Honestly, the blackbird lyrics Beyonce chose to keep exactly the same as the 1968 original are what make the track so jarringly beautiful. She didn't rewrite them like she did with "Jolene." She didn't have to. The words "take these broken wings and learn to fly" already carried a weight that most people forgot about over the last fifty years.
People think it’s a song about a literal bird. It isn't. It never was.
The Little Rock Nine and the Real Story
Paul McCartney wrote "Blackbird" in the heat of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. He was sitting in Scotland, playing his acoustic guitar, but his mind was on the American South. Specifically, he was thinking about the Little Rock Nine—those nine Black students who faced a literal mob just to go to high school in Arkansas.
In British slang, a "bird" is a girl. So, "Blackbird" was always "Black girl."
When Beyonce sings those lyrics now, she’s not just doing a pretty cover of a classic rock staple. She’s reclaiming a song that was written for women like her, but often sung by everyone else. It’s a full-circle moment. Paul McCartney actually FaceTime’d her to say he loved it. He said her version "reinforces the civil rights message" that started the whole thing.
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Who are the other voices on the track?
You’ll notice Beyonce isn’t alone on this song. The harmonies are thick and soaring. She brought in four Black female country artists: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts. This wasn't a random choice. These women are currently "waiting for this moment to arise" in a country music industry that hasn't always been welcoming to them. By putting them on one of the most famous melodies in history, Beyonce is basically handing them the mic and saying, "Fly."
- Tanner Adell: You might know her from "Buckle Bunny."
- Brittney Spencer: A powerhouse who’s been grinding in Nashville for years.
- Tiera Kennedy: Known for her distinct, R&B-tinted country vibe.
- Reyna Roberts: A high-energy performer who brings a rock edge to the genre.
The way their voices blend in the final verse? It’s not just good production. It’s a statement about community.
Decoding the "Blackbiird" Lyrics
The lyrics are deceptively simple. "Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these broken wings and learn to fly." In the context of 1968, "dead of night" referred to the darkness of segregation and the systemic "brokenness" Black Americans were forced to navigate.
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When Beyonce sings "You were only waiting for this moment to arise," it feels less like a prophecy and more like a celebration of survival. Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the original Little Rock Nine, actually spoke out about the cover. She said it "awakens so much" and reminds her of her grandmother telling her to "march forward" no matter what.
Why the double 'ii'?
Beyonce is meticulous. The "ii" in "BLACKBIIRD" (and "TYRANT," and "SPAGHETTII") signifies that this is the second act of her three-part project. But on this specific track, it also feels like a nod to the eyes—"sunken eyes" mentioned in the lyrics—now seeing clearly.
Why it matters for Country music
There’s been a lot of noise about whether Cowboy Carter is a "real" country album. That conversation is kind of boring, though. What’s more interesting is how Beyonce uses "Blackbiird" to bridge the gap between British rock, Appalachian folk, and Black history.
The acoustic guitar you hear on the track? That’s actually the original 1968 master recording of Paul McCartney’s guitar and his rhythmic foot tapping. She’s singing over the history itself.
It’s a reminder that Black artists have always been at the center of these genres, even when they were pushed to the margins. The "moment to arise" isn't coming in the future. It's happening right now.
What to do next
If you want to understand the full depth of what Beyonce is doing with "BLACKBIIRD," do these three things:
- Listen to the original Beatles version immediately followed by Beyonce’s. Notice the difference in the "pulse" of the song; Beyonce’s version feels more like a choral spiritual toward the end.
- Look up the Little Rock Nine. Read about Elizabeth Eckford or Melba Pattillo Beals. Knowing what they went through makes the line "take these sunken eyes and learn to see" hit ten times harder.
- Check out the solo work of the featured artists. Tanner Adell and Brittney Spencer especially have catalogs that show exactly why Beyonce picked them for this specific moment.