This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs by Canadian artists for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday.
Morna Anne Murray, known as Anne Murray was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia on June 20, 1945. Her songs covered several genres to include country, soft rock, pop and adult contemporary. During her 40 year career, she has sold over 55 million albums worldwide.
Murray was the first Canadian female solo singer to reach number 1 on the U.S. charts, and also the first to earn a Gold record for her signature song, “Snowbird” in 1970. She is considered to be one of the female Canadian artists who paved the way for other Canadian artists such as k.d. lang, Céline Dion & Shania Twain. Murray is also the first woman and the first Canadian to win “Album of the Year” at the 1984 Country Music Association Awards for her Gold-plus 1983 album “A Little Good News”. I think we could all use a little good news right about now.
Awards & Accomplishments
- 4 Grammys
- 24 Junos (record)
- 3 American Music Awards
- 3 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards
- 3 Canadian Country Music Association Awards
- Inducted into Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Juno Hall of Fame, The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
- Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars in Nashville, TN
- Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, CA and on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto
- Ranked #10 by Billboard of the 50 Biggest Adult Contemporary Artist Ever in 2011
SONG FACTS – “Snowbird”
- Written by Gene MacLellan and sung by many artists such as Bing Crosby, Lynn Anderson & Elvis Presley.
- Released in June, 1970 by Murray.
- Reached #2 on Canada’s pop chart
- Reached #1 on both the Canadian adult contemporary & country charts.
- Reached #8 on the U.S. pop single chart and became a Top 10 U.S. country hit.
- Spent six weeks at #1 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart.
- This has become Murray’s signature song.
“Snowbird”
Beneath this snowy mantle cold and clean 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 Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Gene Mac Lellan Snowbird lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
SONG FACTS – “Could I Have This Dance”
- Written by Wayland Holyfield and Bob House.
- Released in August, 1980.
- Reached #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks, Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks & The U.S. Hot Country Songs.
- Reached #3 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary Billboard chart & #33 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
- Reached #8 on the U.S. pop single chart and became a Top 10 U.S. country hit.
- As a single, it became Murray’s fifth number one country hit as a solo artist.
- Quite popular at weddings during the 1980’s and many a proposal was made with this song playing in the background.
“Could I Have This Dance”
I'll always remember the song they were playin' The first time we danced and I knew As we swayed to the music and held to each other I fell in love with you Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? Would you be my partner every night? When we're together it feels so right Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? I'll always remember that magic moment When I held you close to me As we moved together, I knew forever You're all I'll ever need Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? Would you be my partner every night? When we're together it feels so right Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? Would you be my partner every night? When we're together it feels so right Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Bob House / Wayland Holyfield Could I Have This Dance lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Our Eyes Open 
Comments
47 responses to “Song Lyric Sunday – Canadian Music – Anne Murray”
Such an amazing artist. I always loved her voice and this song is definitely a classic.
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Thanks Maggie. I think so too! 🙂
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To great songs and what a voice, it hasn’t aged. 💜
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Thanks Willow! I think these songs can keep going through the decades. 🙂
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Yes indeed 💜
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Great choice Lisa, this is such a beautiful song. Snowbird is so perfect for Canadian music.
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Thanks Jim! I kinda didn’t think anyone would select her, but Di did and that is okay with me. Anne Murray was one of favorites in the 80’s as I switched from one genre to another. Kinda all over the place with my music. Then and Now! 🙂
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“Snowbird” was released as the B side of a single in June of 1970 (not 1979). It was on a Canadian album a year earlier. As Anne Murray has said, an American dj flipped the 45 over and “Snowbird hit the charts. Anne’s voice is like maple syrup: sweet, yes, but always with a hint of melancholy.
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Thank you for pointing out my typo. I had 1970 in my beginning paragraphs and simply made a typo in the song facts. She has always been a favorite. 😊
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I can remember a time when Anne Murray was #1 and practically a symbol of Canada. I’m glad someone chose her. She’s an Iconic Canadian Musician. 😊👍💜
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Thanks Goldie! She was a trend setter and paved the way for others. Happy Birthday my friend! I saw the Jays spanked the Yankees last night! Hope you get a wonderful birthday present when they beat them tonight! Fingers crossed! 🙂
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They have courage and the right skills. The Yankees as a team hate Buffalo 😂 I hope that’s weighing on their minds tonight. 😎
It would be an excellent BDay present!
btw you’re welcome for our win and congrats on first place!
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
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Thanks! Close to clinching the division. Hoping to win the #1 seed. 8-2. Rays just hit another homer. Woohoo!
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Jays are way ahead too tonight. Rays are looking really good!
Could be very interesting for us LOL
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Yes they are. Rays just won the division. Been 10 years. If playoffs started tomorrow, it would be Rays & Jays. Holy moly!!!
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Congrats!!!! Well….OMG!!!! 😂👏👏👏
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Oh a Canadian classic Lisa! We all remember Snowbird. Lovely! 🥰
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Thanks Christine! She was my first thought and I never moved past that to consider anyone else. 🙂
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Excellent choice!
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one of my favorite singers – great choice of music
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Thanks Jim! 😊
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Remember her songs from when I was a kid. Really nice choices.
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Thanks so much! 🙂
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Lisa!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!! They’re in!!!!!! After 4 years.!!!!!!!
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That’s awesome! I’m really happy for you! I do hope we are not playing each other in the first round. We need to concentrate on knocking out everyone else. 😊
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Right on!!!!! 👍🤞 Not to worry! We got em!!!!!!
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Yep! We need the Yankees to kinda stay where they are so we are not playing them the first round. 🙂
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A winning night!!!
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Yep! As it stands right now, we would be playing the cheating Houston Astros and it doesn’t appear that it is going to be any other way. The middle of the pack is where the question marks are. I’m glad we are not playing each other in the first round. It would be awesome to be playing each other in the AL championship. 🙂
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You really understand the stats and standings! I hope you’re right! It would be awesome! 😊
Our young guys just won’t quit! They’re setting records! It’s amazing!
Whatever happens is a bonus!!
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Yeah, I’m a baseball fanatic! Started with the Texas Rangers in the 70’s because that is where I was born & grew up. Went to many games and I wanted to play baseball. Back then, girls weren’t allowed to play baseball. We could only play softball. I would stand at the fence behind home plate at the Little League field, yearning to play with the boys. “GIRLS AREN’T ALLOWED TO PLAY BASEBALL!!!”, all the boys would mock me when I said anything. Yes, whatever happens is a bonus, but I want to go to the World Series! LOL! 🙂
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I pitched and was a Centre Fielder (I loved running to catch the impossible catch) on a Softball Team. I can still smell the leather of my glove. It was my friend Karen who had season seats and a Blue Jays fanatic that turned me into a Blue Jays fan. She’s gone now but I know she’s watching and very proud!
It should be extremely interesting!!!!!!!!
Good luck!!!!!! not lol 😋😀
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Rays & Jays. Oh man! Gonna be an interesting series. 😊
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Oh yeah! 😊😎
I’m trying to put a page together for the game Tuesday. I have logos and some statistics and some recent predictions on video.
It’s saying you’re the #1 Fan of the TB Rays and I’m the #1 Fan of the BJ’s.
Titled: THE GAME OF THE CENTURY! (well maybe) something like that.
Any ideas? Or do you think it’s not a good idea?
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I love the idea!!! It might just me & you but I’m okay with that. 😂
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Cool!!!!!!! I’ll do it! Why not? 😂👍
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Excellent!!! You could put a kudos to the Indians to beat the Yankees. That is definitely common ground! 😝
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LOL I’ll try
Hey Coleman? Is there a Rays theme song or team video you’d like to be included. I’m trying to find one LOL
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How about this. Not my genre but thought it was pretty good. https://youtu.be/Fe_YB0kc8b0
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Ok. Thanks.
I’m finding a lot of Rap ….Works for me!
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Right now we are watching the Stanley Cup. Come on Lightning!
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Oh wow! Good luck!
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Bolts won the Stanley Cup!!!
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Woot Woot!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Bolts!!!! 🎉🌟🌟🌟✨✨🌟
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This is a really great song. I have heard of Anne but not this song! Thanks for the great choice!
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Thanks for saying so. I love both of these songs and just about everything she does.
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