Anne Murray: “Snowbird”

Anne 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. He also recorded it for his own 1970 album, Street Corner Preacher, and included an additional verse:

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 two years later. She became a very popular pop-country crossover artist. It’s hard to believe that before her success in the music business, Anne was a high school P.E. teacher.

(source)

Lyrics to Anne Murray’s “Snowbird”

The unborn grass lies waiting

For its coat to turn to green

The snowbird sings the song he always sings

And speaks to me of flowers

That will bloom again in spring

When I was young my heart was young then too

Anything that it would tell me

That’s the thing that I would do

But now I feel such emptiness within

For the thing that I want most in life’s

The thing thing that I can’t win

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 he’ll only break me 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

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

Anne performs the song again in 2003…

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