The concept of a "blue bird of happiness" originated from a play, The Blue Bird, by Maurice Maeterlinck in 1908. Consequently, bluebirds became widely associated as the symbol of happiness and cheer, and have been used as such by numerous songwriters. Examples are: Judy Garland's "Hello, Bluebird", "Over the Rainbow" ("Somewhere over the Rainbow/Bluebirds fly"), "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" ("I'm Always Chasing Rainbows/Waiting to find a little bluebird in vain"), "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" ("Mr. Bluebird's on my shoulder"), David Bowie's "Lazarus" ("I'll be free / just like that Bluebird"), Vera Lynn's "The White Cliffs of Dover" ("There'll be bluebirds over/The White Cliffs of Dover"; and Paul McCartney and Wings' "Bluebird". The mountain bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada. I hope their happy about that! Bluebirds are one of the few thrush genera in North America and their beauty alone is uplifting and an inspiration to artists. This is a digital painting and composite copyrighted by Matthew Schwartz on 8.17.2016. All Spadecaller artwork posted on Imagekind, Facebook, and elsewhere is copyright protected. Permission to copy, appropriate, reclaim, alter, or otherwise distribute, display, or sell is prohibited.