A Broken Wing
| "A Broken Wing" | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Single by Martina McBride | |||||||
| from the album Evolution | |||||||
| B-side | Valentine"[1] | ||||||
| Released | September 8, 1997 | ||||||
| Format | CD single | ||||||
| Genre | Country | ||||||
| Length | 3:35 | ||||||
| Label | RCA Nashville | ||||||
| Writer(s) | Phil Barnhart, Sam Hogin, James House | ||||||
| Producer(s) | Paul Worley, Ed Seay | ||||||
| Martina McBride singles chronology | |||||||
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"A Broken Wing" is a song written by James House, Sam Hogin and Phil Barnhart, and recorded by American country music singer Martina McBride. It was released in September 1997 as the first single from McBride's album Evolution. In January 1998, "A Broken Wing" became McBride's second Number One single.
Content
McBride originally performed "A Broken Wing" in the key of B major with a vocal range of two octaves from F♯3 to F♯5.[2] It has a 12/8 time signature and the verses use a chord pattern of B-C♯m7-E-B three times, followed by B-C♯m7-E-F♯-B; the refrain uses G♯m-D♯m7-C♯m7-B followed by B-C♯m7-E-F♯-B.[2] Instrumentally, "A Broken Wing" features acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, piano, bass guitar and drums.
In the storyline, a female character escapes from an emotionally abusive relationship.[3] Regarding the second verse, wherein the husband finds "a note by the window / and the curtains blowin' in the breeze," the authors of the book My Country Roots wrote that the song's conclusion could be interpreted to indicate that the woman has committed suicide or that she has escaped.[4]
Paul Worley told Billboard magazine in 1998 that the entirety of the track, except for the backing vocals, was recorded in one day, while other tracks on the album were recorded in pieces over time.[5]
Music video
The American director team Deaton-Flanigen Productions, consisting of Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV, filmed the song's music video. It was nominated for Music Video of the Year at the 1998 Country Music Association awards.[6]
Other versions
Jordin Sparks covered the song on her 2007 EP Jordin Sparks. Her version of the song made number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chart positions
"A Broken Wing" debuted on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts dated for September 13, 1997. The song spent twenty-five weeks on that chart,[1] peaking at number one on the charts dated for January 10, 1998.
| Chart (1997–1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 61 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1998) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[10] | 60 |
| Preceded by "Longneck Bottle" by Garth Brooks |
Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks number one single January 10, 1998 |
Succeeded by "Just to See You Smile" by Tim McGraw |
References
- 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 262. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- 1 2 Contemporary Country (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 1999. pp. 26–30. ISBN 0-634-01594-X. The sheet music is in C major, with a note that the song is recorded a semitone lower than written.
- ↑ Fillingim, David (2003). Redneck liberation: country music as theology. Mercer University Press. p. 129. ISBN 0-86554-841-2.
- ↑ Randall, Alice; Carter Little; Courtney Little (2006). My Country Roots: The Ultimate MP3 Guide to America's Original Outsider Music. Thomas Nelson, Inc. p. 92. ISBN 1-59555-860-8.
- ↑ Cromer, Ben (18 April 1998). "Of His Many Hats, Producer/Exec Paul Worley Prefers His Guitarist Cap". Billboard.
- ↑ Hurst, Jack (21 September 1998). "COUNTRY PICKS PREDICTING THE OUTCOME OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S CMA AWARD". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3400." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 24, 1997. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ↑ "Martina McBride – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Martina McBride.
- ↑ "Martina McBride – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Martina McBride.
- ↑ "Best of 1998: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
