Mick Fleetwood honours late Christine McVie on 80th birthday with touching 'Songbird' cover

Mick Fleetwood is honouring his late bandmate Christine McVie on what would have been her 80th birthday by sharing a beautiful instrumental version of Songbird.

Alongside Hawaiian ukulele composer Jake Shimabukuro, the pair created it at Mick Fleetwood's studio in Hawaii, with Jake being the one to suggest they record Songbird.

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“We cut it in April, and it turned out beautifully, but there was no plan yet to release it," Fleetwood said in a release.

"But when I heard about Christine’s upcoming birthday, it felt like the right time to share this as a tribute to all the lovely music she created, both on her own and with Fleetwood Mac.”

While the version is instrumental, it starts with a message: "For you, there will be no more crying. For you, the sun will be shining, and the songbirds keep singing, like they know the score. And I love you. I love you like never before. Like never before."

There is also a heartfelt dedication at the end of the instrumental, where Mick adapts a lyric from Christine's original, “As the songbird sings, now from the heavens to you Christine, I wish you all the love in the world. But, most of all, I wish it from myself.”

Listen to the touching tribute above.