Judy Collins
Albatross
Works Info
Composer:Judy CollinsGenre:VocalAverage_duration:5:00"Albatross" is a song composed by Judy Collins, an American singer-songwriter, in 1967. The song was first released on her album "Wildflowers" in 1967 and later as a single in 1968. The song is a tribute to the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his famous poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," which features an albatross as a symbol of good luck and then bad luck. The song has a slow and melancholic melody, with Collins' clear and pure voice delivering the lyrics. The song is composed of three verses and a chorus, with a simple and repetitive chord progression. The first verse describes the albatross as a "mighty bird of prey," while the second verse talks about the bird's beauty and grace. The third verse is more introspective, with Collins singing about her own feelings of loneliness and isolation. The chorus of the song is the most memorable part, with Collins repeating the phrase "Albatross, Albatross, why did you die?" The chorus is a reference to the fate of the albatross in Coleridge's poem, where the bird is killed by the mariner and becomes a symbol of guilt and remorse. Overall, "Albatross" is a haunting and beautiful song that captures the spirit of Coleridge's poem. The song's simple melody and powerful lyrics have made it a classic of the folk music genre, and it remains one of Collins' most beloved songs.More....