Blackbird

Blackbird was recorded on June 11, 1968 and released on November 22, 1968 on The Beatles (White Album). It was written by Paul in Scotland earlier in the year. He said he was reacting to the news of serious racial trouble in the US, and had a black woman in mind when he wrote the lyrics ("bird" being UK slang for "girl"). The recording features Paul alone, with his Martin D-28 (Dreadnought) and real blackbird singing in the background. The opening of the piece was inspired by Bach's Bourrée in E, which he and George had been studying off and on as a guitar exercise since the earliest days of their friendship. In the background a metronome can be heard, which was left in the mix on purpose. Blackbird also appears as an introduction to Yesterday on the Love album.