October Song

Album: Frank (2003)
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written in memory of Amy Winehouse's pet canary, whom she named after movie star Ava Gardner. Amy recalled to Mojo magazine January 2008 how the bird would wake her in the mornings, "twittering away and rocking on her little swing." When it died the singer was heartbroken. She buried her beloved bird in some woods in East Finchley near London, singing "Lullaby Of Birdland" as she laid Ava to rest. She added in the same Mojo interview: "I loved that bird. It was a sad time. But I got a good song out of it."
  • The album Frank was named in reference to the singer Frank Sinatra, who was married to Ava Gardner between 1951 and 1957.

Comments: 2

  • Nelly from Fort Worth, TxAmy said in an interview around 2004 that "this song I wrote talking about my relationship to substance abuse (marijuana) more so than I am about my dead bird." So this song has a double meaning.
  • Tiffany from Little Rock, ArThis is a sweet song. She has very deep attachments, especially towards animals.
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