I first heard “Message to Martha” on a Burt Bacharach compilation album.  I adore the song and I love the way Jerry Butler, Jr. sings it. The song was first recorded as “Message to Martha” by Jerry Butler in the 1962 session in New York City which produced Butler’s hit “Make It Easy on Yourself”. However, Butler’s “Message to Martha” was not released until December 1963 when it appeared as a track on Butler’s Need to Belong album.

Jerry Butler, Jr. (born December 8, 1939) is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He is also noted as being the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, as well as a 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Since leaving The Impressions, Jerry has had over 55 Billboard Pop & R&B Chart Hits as a solo artist, including some 15 Top 40 Pop Hits in the Hot 100, and 15 R&B Top 10’s. He served as a Commissioner for Cook County, Illinois, from 1985 to 2018. As a member of this 17-member county board, he chaired the Health and Hospitals Committee, and served as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee.

Spread your wings for New Orleans
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
And take a message to Martha, message to Martha
She sings each night in some caf?
In her search to find wealth and fame
I hear Martha has gone and changed her name

It’s a year since she was here
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
And take a message to Martha, message to Martha
Tell her I love her more each day
As the train pulled out down the track
Martha promised she’d soon be coming back

Oh, tell her how my heart just breaks in two
Since she journeyed far
And even though her dreams of fame fell through
To me she will always be a star

Spread your wings for New Orleans
Kentucky bluebird, fly away
And take a message to Martha, message to Martha
Tell her to start for home today
When you find her please let her know
Rich or poor, I will always love her so

Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
Fly away, fly away, fly away

Songwriters: Burt Bacharach / Hal David