Wildflower by Skylark

Album: Skylark (1972)

Charted: 9

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Songfacts®:

This is the very first song that Canadian-born producer David Foster played on in his band Skylark with Donny Gerrard. It is one of the most popular songs to come from Canada and has been covered by the O'Jays, the Neville Brothers and Color Me Badd (in a version produced by David Foster). Skylark released only two albums, but Foster went on to become a hugely successful songwriter and producer. Foster did not write this song - it was written by Doug Edwards and David Richardson. >>
Suggestion credit:
Sara - Silver Spring, MD
Dave Richardson was a Canadian police officer at the time he wrote the lyrics for this song. The words were originally a poem written for his girl friend, which he passed on to his close friend David Foster. Richardson explained his lyrical inspiration in an interview: "In 1970 I was dating a nurse, whom I would eventually marry in 1971 (it only lasted four years, though - we were both not ready for such a commitment). One night I went to pick her up at her apartment, as we had planned on going out. When she opened the door I saw that she was upset to the point of tears. She still had a housecoat on and had her hair wrapped in a towel after a shower. She told me that two elderly ladies she had been caring for in the hospital had died that day at work, and she felt terribly sad about it, as she had come to know them fairly well over a period of time. Anyway, she more or less vented her feelings and I just listened. After she was finished, she thanked me for listening, and said she would get ready for our date. She went into the bedroom and closed the door, and I sat and watched TV waiting for her to come out. When she didn't return, I knocked on the door but she didn't answer, so I went in to find her fast asleep on the bed, still in her housecoat and with the towel still wrapped around her head. I guess she was just exhausted after her emotional day. So, I put a blanket over her, being careful not to wake her, and went home and wrote the song in about fifteen minutes or so. It was absolutely inspired. I have always felt that all I did was hold the pen in my hand, and that God did the writing.

The 'Be careful how you touch her, for she'll awaken' part, refers to when I put the blanket over her. 'The way she's always paying, for a debt she never owes…' - It wasn't her fault that the two ladies had died, and yet she felt so badly for them that she was crying." ( Source Davidfoster.net)

Comments: 29

Gia Star Girl from Fort Lauderdale FloridaI love this song since the first time I heard it I believe I was around 12
Annie from IowaThis is my life, This will be played at my funeral.
AnonymousI was abused in my household until I ran away for good when I was 18. Sleep was the only freedom that I had, and I bore the abuse because I was the first one born in the U.S.A.and my mother was terribly homesick and depressed. That was my crime-being born. I was not wild and free (with a lot of responsibility for myself added in) until I left for good. I am very successful with a great marriage and three successful children. This song could have been written for me and my young life.
Katharine from West Virginia My all time favorite song
Larry from Pittsburgh, PaThis song is just incredible. The gentle pace, the killer lead vocal, great guitar solo, dreamy backup vocals. And oh, that lead vocal. David Foster would never again being involved with something so brilliant.
Hon. from New JerseyThe absolute song of my life in the 1970’s
Nene from San FranciscoI just have so much going on in my life nobody but my husband understand why I go through with. I just know I was put here to be a service to other people and when that silent wind blows seem like I just have to go. so I ran myself ragged trying to help people and people just think I never get tired but I do.. but I know God has my back thank you this song is actually me. It's my theme yes I'm another wildflower. When I was younger whenever anything was going bad or I was exhausted, I would just go to sleep cuz sleep is where I got my satisfaction and my release from worries my father used to say that sleeping was the only thing I gave the right amount of attention to. Yeah that's my freedom, "Wildflower "my song. Thank you for writing it seems like there's always a lot of things that need to be done and I'm the only one that see the need for it. and I just go... and do it and a lot of people are blaming me for stuff that I didn't do it's just the opposite I've made the situation better but I'm a wild flower I think I like that i am it's I just have so much going on in my life nobody but my husband understand why I go through with.
Xman from OregonThis is my song to my Mon who passed away some 13 years ago. Today is March 6th, 2021. She was the greatest person who loved like no other and had a very difficult life. She was married off young and missed her entire childhood and never got to experience anything her whole life. She dedicatedherself to my dad and my siblings. She never had the chance to do anything good. The only time in her life that was any good was cut short by a stroke. I never got to see her i the last month of her life. I cried for days and I am crying right now writing this. I miss her more than she could ever know. As the song says "sleeps the only freedom she knows". I love you mom, I miss you so much. I hope you have found peace.
Treasure from NigeriaIts so sensitive and very emotional, anytime I hear this song it just reminds me of who I am in life,
Great lyrics
Dave from Waskom, Texasvery hauntingly beautiful song. it might just break a heart
Eric from Durban South AfricaMy favorite song
Debra from Amarillo, TexasI've always liked this song. The heavy lead guitar packs a punch in sharp counterpart to the harp and other orchestral strings in the background, yet somehow they don't clash. I loved hearing what inspired the composer -- very cool, very sweet.
Pedro from TexasI worked with a lady who was sexually abused from early childhood. I never understood why this song was special to me in the 70’s... but after knowing her story it reminds me what she must have gone thru all those years.
Irwin Shoulder Ashby from United StatesI purely love this song for life this will be my wedding song.
Me from Los Angles I love this song and i love singing it, beautiful... Linda White in the comments below, I hope you see this... please bring your story social media, i think it's important for people to know your story and it's correlation.
Hody Paiva from Caracas , VenezuelaThe letters and the music touch my soul, I don't know why exactly.
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI never knew that the brilliant David Foster's career began with this song.
Ceecee from Bronx,new YorkIts a Lovely song the words are inspiring.
Eltrue from New Brunswick Canadaafter listening to many artists that covered this song I still believe that Donny Gerrard did the best job sing it it absolutely thrills me sometimes when I listen to it.
Tony from San DiegoThis is why I love song fax.com! It's a great song with a great story behind it. I mean, who would have thought a Canadian cop wrote this? Thank you song fax.com for even existing!
Richard Brinkley from Atlanta Find someone with the original cd or album cover and go straight to the record company or try to email the writer and you will find sheet music or a rough draft.
Phil from Waltham May 02451 MassachusettsHi to all looking for the sheet music to wildflower by the 1972 band Skylark and David foster I will pay for it it's not easy to find. It's a great song or can anybody tell where I might find it. My e- mail is carwrack@aol.com thank you Phil Ramsay Waltham Mass. Have a great day.
Phil from Waltham May 02451 MassachusettsPhil Ramsay again if anybody has it I will pay for it. Sheet music to wildflower by the skylarks version 1972 David foster was in the band Carwrack@aol.com Thank you looking to play for dying friend.
Phil from Waltham May 02451 MassachusettsHi trying to get the original sheet music for wildflower by Doug Edwards and David Richardson from 1972 looking and looking all over the net can you help thank you.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 30th 1973, Skylark performed "Wildflower" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Four months earlier on February 11th, 1973 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #99; and May 20th, 1973 it peaked at #9 (for 1 week) and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100...
And on the day the group appeared on 'Bandstand' the song was in its 20th week on the Top 100 and at position #33...
It reached #10 in their native Canadian RPM Top Singles chart.
Markantney from Biloxi, MsA remake was also done by the R&B Group, NewBirth in 1974. That version has been sampled and mimicked by R&B and Hip-Hop Artists, Jamie Foxx and the group, Somethin for the People.
Linda White from Rock Hill, ScWhen I was a little girl very early teen I wrote a song titled Wildflower. The words are an exact copy to the Dave Richardson version. I don't know what magical power would have two minds scratching out the exact poem on the ends of their pencils. I was always running for the dictionary checking for correct spellings and finding the words that I wanted in each of my poems so it took me longer than 15 minutes! Yea lots longer because I was crying sobbing between verses. My Wildflower was my own personal emotions of my thus far life! I finished my exact copy of the world known words to Wildflower and I did what would be one of my greatest debt I never owed! I mailed my Wildflower poem to a supposed music company! My poem was mailed back to me with a fancy document saying that this was not what they were looking for at this time. "Thank-you But we are not interested." I think Dave Richardson and I have met in the worst of circumstances. I have this dream being still a child that we can one day meet again - converse comply admit discuss confess agree make amends. I have cried being a lady! The rain has fallen swelling my eyes to closure! Wanting wanting wanting to hear my my name out of silence also near next to Wildflower! Wow!
Lou from Athens, GreeceOne of the best blues songs of all time.
Brian from Paris, TxThis is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

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