Snowbird

A couple of months ago, I started listening to NPR's The Vinyl Cafe, a showcase of Canadian musical talent, and it's on The Vinyl Cafe that I first learned of Gene MacLellan.

Gene MacLellan lived on Prince Edward Island, (PEI to the natives), and it was while walking on a cold and desolate PEI beach that he got the idea for "Snowbird", an up-tempo song about utter hopelessness in 4/4 time:

Spread your tiny wings and fly away
And take the snow back with you
Where it came from on that day
The one I love forever is untrue
And if I could you know that I would
Fly away with you

The breeze along the river seems to say
That she'll only break my heart again
Should I decide to stay
So little snowbird take me with you when you go
To that land of gentle breezes
Where the peaceful waters flow

It only makes sense that Gene spent many years fighting depression and ultimately succumbing to suicide on that cold and dreary rock.

Anne Murray made this song a hit in 1970, meaning this tune has been around since before UNIX existed.