Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter
Sometimes part of Independence Day but sometimes appearing separately - often segueing into Sugaree. Tt doesn't bear any relation to the well-known song the composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon.
This is a typical example of Robert Hunter's shorter versions:
Never send to askThis is a much longer version, from 16 October 1978, as best I can make it out:
Does it toll for me
Bye bye
Bye bye, baby blackbird
Bye, baby, bye
Bye bye, baby blackbird
Say, jeepers creepers
Look at all of them leapers
Tossed up in a tide pool
Laying around just drowning in the sun
We can drown in water, you can drown on the land
You can drown on the corner of [?]
Bye bye
Baby blackbird
Bye bye
Well last night when I lay [driven], I [thought] myself to sleepNotes
I woke up in a land of the living, where my soul could leave
Highway in the valley, little folks laughing, now they got to move away
Anyway they don't seem to care, just waiting for a brighter day
Jeepers creepers, look at all those leapers
Tossed up in a tide pool, their face on the ground
Drowning in air, then water, dry, drowning in the end
Never send to ask does it toll for me
Bye bye baby blackbird
Bye bye baby bye
There high in the sky, cast a shadow on Orange
Cast a feather on New York
Cast your blue on the city
Cast your eye on the surf
Drop your voice on the prairies
Leave your songs in a [mud hut]
Leave your prayers in our head
Leave your name on a tongue [?]
And your song in our heart
Let us sing it [forever]
Bye bye baby bye
Bye bye baby blackbird
Bye bye bye baby bye
I'm not flying on that [?]
I'm not [?] too
I'm not south of West Texas
And on Lubbock that's critical
I'm out on on the bay
I look back at a boat
In the palace of man
On the mountain of jade
Where the talons of thunderbolts turn
Into water and faith
And mortals who climb
To near to the gods
Find all palaces deserted now
And the twilight grow dim
Never send to ask does it toll for me
Bye bye bye baby blackbird
It tolls for thee
I am over the mountain
On your wings oh so broad
With the shadow against the sun
And the visions out loud
And a rainbow that's subtle
And a [?] full of [?]
Well you turn around
And your face isn't there
Well what would it gain me (note 1)
If I was to go
Like Jacob of old
To the well of the world
To wax halls where candles
Burn on through the day
To light you a path
So you'd not lose your way
Bye bye baby blackbird
Bye bye baby bye
Up high in the sky
Take your coast from New Orleans
Take a toast to Detroit
And as near as I got to be
And I'm moving today
Bye bye baby blackbird
Bye bye baby bye
Bye bye baby bye bye bye
High in the sky
Up and over the mountain
And over the sea
And I love every turn
On a [?] come to me
On the wings of a sparrow
On the wings of a white dove
Bye bye baby blackbird
Bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye baby bye
Mustn't ask does it toll for thee
Bye bye bye baby blackbird
Bye bye baby bye