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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would this surprise you?

81 replies

HmmNot · 16/05/2025 07:57

My 50yo husband (lived in the UK all his life) has never heard- or even heard of- the Beatles’ song Blackbird.

YABU- yeah it’s not that well known.
YANBU- has he been living under a rock?

OP posts:
Bubobubo · 16/05/2025 08:49

Kittyfur · 16/05/2025 08:14

I’m 60 and could sing the whole of blackbird 🐦‍⬛

I'm 42 and could sing it too.

My parents didn't really listen to music apart from in the car.

Rubber Soul is probably in my top 10 albums of all time.

whynotmereally · 16/05/2025 08:49

Off the top of my head I don’t know it maybe I have heard it but I don’t remember. I’m 46. We are not Beatles era. My era was oasis, blue, pulp etc

LieutenantJumboJr · 16/05/2025 08:48

I just heard it for the first time on Gavin and Stacey

DrinkReprehensibly · 16/05/2025 08:46

I like the song but know it more from the fact that it's always been a favourite for amateur musicians to cover at open mic nights than from hearing the original Beatles song being played. I don't know why it's such a popular choice but it's a nice song, maybe with a bit of challenge vocally for people to show their skills.

ApricotFlan · 16/05/2025 08:45

Never heard of it. I don’t know why you’re so shocked - it’s not like he’s never heard of The Beatles full stop.

Birch101 · 16/05/2025 08:44

I'm from the 80s and know it....blackbirds singing in the dead of night.....

Gundogday · 16/05/2025 08:42

I didn’t realise it was a Beatles song until recently (possibly also Gavin and Stacey) and only really heard covers of it. It’s not typical Beatles, but as someone upthread said, more country folk tune.

So in answer to your question, no, it’s not a surprise that he wasn’t aware of it, as I’m the same.

Howinthehelldidthishappen · 16/05/2025 08:38

I 've never heard of it either, in my forties.
But then I can't stand the beatles so it's probably not that surprising.

Heylittlesongbird · 16/05/2025 08:37

This is awkward, I often sing this song, especially when the blackbird outside does sing in the dead of night. But ….. I didn’t know who it was by until this thread.

namechangeGOT · 16/05/2025 08:34

I used to sing blackbird to my son to get him to sleep! It’s also on Bossbaby!

GrouachMacbeth · 16/05/2025 08:33

I don't know the Beatles one but oi know the Wurzels

"Where be that blackbird be,
Oi know where he be.
Ee but up that Wurzel tree
that's where oi sees ee"

Earworm planted.

ForAzureSeal · 16/05/2025 08:22

Surprising if he's never heard the song ever. Not surprising if he didn't know it was by the Beatles or couldn't identify it from title and band name.

MoistVonL · 16/05/2025 08:17

Wow. I thought everyone knew it, it’s such a beautiful song and used frequently in films and television shows.

Well, lucky for your husband, he’s got a new lovely song to enjoy.

I was in my forties the first time I heard Only Living Boy In New York (Paul Simon) and that felt like winning a prize - suddenly a delightful song I’d never heard of that I immediately lived.

Woahtherehoney · 16/05/2025 08:17

I’m 33 and have a tattoo of it - but I am a huge Beatles fan. It’s one of the lesser known ones but Gavin and Stacey has made it a bit more popular.

Itsjustnotthevibe · 16/05/2025 08:16

It's a beautiful song but not one of the Beatles well known ones so I think if they aren't your thing then you probably wouldn't know it.

Kittyfur · 16/05/2025 08:14

I’m 60 and could sing the whole of blackbird 🐦‍⬛

BlueMum16 · 16/05/2025 08:10

I'm 50s not heard of it, from UK too not that I think that matters with the Beatles.

I guess if I was to hear it I might recognise it.

WinterStar1 · 16/05/2025 08:10

I'm 52 and only heard it for the first time on Gavin and Stacey at Christmas and even then I didn't know it was a Beatles song

MyUmberSeal · 16/05/2025 08:09

I work in a funeral home, it’s one of the most popular funeral songs for when the coffin is carried in. I hear it all the time. It’s a lovely song.

KidsDoBetter · 16/05/2025 08:08

Zanatdy · 16/05/2025 08:07

we used it for my dad’s funeral, he was a big Beatles fan, so I grew up listening to them, but I don’t think Blackbird is one of their massive hits. Friend also used it for her mum’s funeral.

I’m sorry for your loss. I can see it would make a beautiful funeral song.

FrenchandSaunders · 16/05/2025 08:08

Nope and I’m 57

Lapidarian · 16/05/2025 08:07

I’m 52 and, while not British, spent much of my adult life in the UK and am fairly well-informed about pop culture, and I don’t know it.

Zanatdy · 16/05/2025 08:07

we used it for my dad’s funeral, he was a big Beatles fan, so I grew up listening to them, but I don’t think Blackbird is one of their massive hits. Friend also used it for her mum’s funeral.

KidsDoBetter · 16/05/2025 08:07

You know I’m same age British and I only really heard of it when it was used in some US show or film …

EBearhug · 16/05/2025 08:04

I was amazed when a colleague in his 50s, who is really into prog rock, had never heard Sergeant Pepper.

(I told him he wasn't allowed to talk to me about the history of prog rock again until he had. I was quite surprised he did listen to it.)

I don't think Blackbird is their most well-known song, and after experience with colleague, I wouldn't make assumptions, although I probably would have previous to that. And it's 55 years since the Beatles broke up, so unless people's parents listened, it's probable people will not know their full oeuvre.