Songfacts®: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
Murray recorded this after watching its composer, Gene MacLellan, perform it on Canadian TV. It was the second song MacLellan had ever written and he penned it in just 25 minutes.
This was Murray's first hit. She started recording when the producer of a show that turned her down as a singer gave her a shot 2 years later. She became a very popular Pop/Country crossover artist.
This was the first ever gold record by a Canadian solo female artist.
Lyrically the snowbird is used as a metaphor for freedom by contrasting the narrator's in ability to leave the place of his/her heartache with the bird's ability to just up and fly away.
Other artists who have recorded this song include, Lynn Anderson, Bing Crosby with Count Basie, Burl Ives, Loretta Lynn, Al Martino, Elvis Presley, and Andy Williams.
This was an inaugural song inductee of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003.
Comments (6):
Brandi Carlile
As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.
Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson
Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."
Tonio K
This mysterious and wildly eclectic singer/songwriter talks about some of his most memorable songs and collaborations.