Bluebird

words & music by Doug Howell (29 Oct 1979) • © 2020 Creative Measures LLC

he sent the morning sun
to kiss me awake
he sent a gentle breeze
to whisper my name
and just for my eyes
he made all these wonders I see
and just for surprise
he bid you to fly here to me

oh, bluebird
take to your wings
carry my heart away
to my king
oh, bluebird
sing so sweet
sing when you lay my love down
at his feet

make sure he knows that his gifts
aren’t given in vain
tell him I’m thankful for them all
even the pain
tell him I know
that he loves me just like I am
but I want to be
the best me for him
that I can
the best that I can

oh, bluebird
take to your wings
carry my heart away
to my king
oh, bluebird
sing so sweet
sing when you lay my love down
at his feet

if you should honor me
and do what I ask
and he should reward you and give you
some nobler task
don’t you forget
little bluebird
to come back to me
and tell me his answer is
soon he will come back for me
he’s coming for me

oh, bluebird
take to your wings
carry my heart away
to my king
oh, bluebird
sing so sweet
sing when you lay my love down
at his feet
sing, sweet bluebird

Reviews

So beautiful! —Carol G. S.

Very beautiful song. While on YouTube, I went through several songs from your 1977 album, and that sent me to memories of the Salt Cellar and hearing you perform there. Any chance you have that album on CD? —Wray L.

Your music always moves me, Doug. Always has! —Greg S.

Amen 🙏! Beautiful . 🔥❤️✝️👑❤️ —Carol T.

❤️🐦 A similar story . The Sunday on Mother’s Day , 5-13-01 , when I found out my Dad , Howard , went to Jesus I took a walk in two of my favorite parks . Each place I encountered Blue Birds . Blue Birds 🐦 were one of my Dad’s Fav . He made us a Blue bird house . It was as if Jesus and my Dad were saying ALL IS WELL . I never encountered Blue Birds in those 2 parks since . A messenger gift from Heaven on that day . God is so good . Oh how He Loves us . … Now I must listen to your song . 🥰 —Carol T.

Oh, Doug! I’m a bird person and I love this song. Thank you. Beautiful. —Marilyn T.

2020 Notes

My Grandma Twilah always loved birds, and talked about them to us kids so lovingly we couldn’t help but grow up with an appreciation for their beauty. In fact, my mother is convinced that God sent a Mourning Dove to let her know that Grandma (her mother) had passed away. Her death was sudden and expected, and Mom’s never forgotten that precious visitation. I don’t think I’ll ever forget her telling me about it either, how the bird just kept singing its mournful melody, following her down the road when she was on her walk. And then suddenly, without a word, she realized that Grandma was gone. 

One of my favorite things about where we last lived in Michigan was the amazing variety of birds we had on our 10 acres at Hawkswood. We got to know quite a number of them by their songs as well as their appearance: the Eastern Bluebird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Red-Winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, and Black-Capped Chickadee. And I loved the little Goldfinches that always flitted around near the end of our dirt road. Every time we’d leave for town or return, they’d scatter as we drove by, splashing the sky with streaks of yellow. I used to call them my “Disney birds.” And yes, sometimes I’d even talk to them. (Don’t act surprised. You always knew I was crazy. By the way, it turns out you can get into quite an argument on whether or not to capitalize—or even how to capitalize—common bird names. Read Be Your Own Birder’s article on it if you don’t believe me. But for purposes of this informal note, and because it honors “common” birds in general, I opted for title case.)

“Bluebird” is a little prayer-story I imagined when I was startled by a gorgeous Eastern Bluebird that flew across the road in front of my car when I was on tour. It happened to be on my birthday. (Have you ever had a day where everything—and I mean everything—seemed like an amazing gift? Well, this birthday was one of those days. Incidentally, the last song I shared with you, “I’m Not Afraid of Growing Old,” was written on that same day.) I was traveling the backroads, which I often did, so was going slow enough not to hit him, thank goodness. That beautiful deep blue bolt really stopped me in my tracks, though. It seemed to me at the time a message from God.

Anyway, here’s the little prayer I wrote in his honor. And one of these days, if you happen to get a winged messenger, make sure you stop and listen…

Music Notes

Wasn’t sure what approach I wanted to take with this song, but just started adding things that seemed right to me, and ended up with pretty much a full orchestra. I included some Bacharach-esque things like brushes on the 3/4 beat and a few timp hits to accentuate some of the arrival points. Was thinking of woodwinds to evoke the bird, but ended up just using flute instead. I did look up the song of the Eastern Bluebird and listened to it for reference. I found that many of their songs begin with a sort of triple-tongued figure, so I tried to mimic that in the flute part here and there.