Blackbird

Album: Seasons Of My Soul (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Seasons Of My Soul is a collection of songs containing heart-rending memories of unrequited love and loss. Rumer told The Sun that this song finds her "having a conversation with a part of myself that won't let go of being miserable."
  • According to her record label's biography, Rumer wrote this song while living in a commune in a stately country home, which was owned by a "charismatic, philanthropic baronet."
  • Rumer is the performing name of Sarah Joyce. In 2003, Joyce lost her mother to breast cancer. Her mum left her a reading list that featured the author Rumer Godden, from which she chose her new name.
  • Months before her death, Sarah's mother had visited a commune in a stately home in the Dorset countryside run by a Benedictine monk. After her mum's death she boarded a train to the country pile and simply stayed until she felt well enough to leave. Against this backdrop of natural beauty, Joyce wrote many songs, including this song, which is in part about coming to the realization that she was strong enough to go back to the real world. "That song was the turning point," she said. "It's about a lot of things, but mainly about being addicted to sorrow. It gave me the courage to go back to London and really try to go somewhere with my music."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.