Alela Diane Menig (born April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an… Read Full Bio ↴Alela Diane Menig (born April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an American singer and songwriter. She grew up singing with her musician parents and performing in the school choir. She taught herself guitar, and began writing songs which blend tense, trance-like arpeggios with warm vocals and meditative lyrics about family and nature. Her first recordings were self-released in 2003 as Forest Parade. Her first solo public appearances were at the invitation of fellow Nevada City native Joanna Newsom. She also did a stint in the Nevada City slow grass band Black Bear before continuing with her solo pursuits.

The songs for her album, 'The Pirate’s Gospel', were written on a trip to Europe. They were recorded in her father’s studio and were initially self-released in 2004, in paper and lace sleeves with hand lettering. The album was issued in revised form by Holocene Music in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim.

A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists, and five more new songs were issued on a limited-edition 10" vinyl pressing, Songs Whistled Through White Teeth, released in the UK in October 2006. The Pirate's Gospel was released in the UK on Names Records in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times and NME.

Alela Diane has toured in the USA both solo and with Tom Brosseau, and has also opened for the Decemberists, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan. She performed in the UK in April and August 2007. According to a relatively recent interview, her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.

She toured Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008.

Pigeon Song
Alela Diane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Street-wise pigeon we see you
Camp on the sidewalk if we don't
Hear you anymore

Where did you loose your voice
And how did you loose the trees
Did they make your tangled feathers glow
Did they let your tattered chest flow

From the blatant backs of buildings
Where stagnate airs heat in the sun
From the blatant backs of buildings
Where stagnate airs heat in the sun

So we put our curtains up and ignore the sounds that break walls down
So we put our curtains up and ignore the sounds that break walls down
Break walls down

Do your potted plants really keep you company
Do your potted plants really keep you company

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alela Diane's Pigeon Song speak of the struggle of a pigeon, who is seen camping on the sidewalk. The singer wonders why the pigeon has lost its voice and how it lost the trees that once sheltered it. The reference to the "tangled feathers" and "tattered chest" evoke imagery of a bird struggling for survival in a harsh, urban environment. The pigeon's plight is highlighted by the contrast between the stagnate airs that heat up on the back of buildings and the implied freedom offered by the trees.

The second half of the song takes a more introspective turn, as the singer reflects on the human response to the pigeon's plight. The curtains that are put up and the sounds that "break walls down" suggest a willful ignorance of the suffering that takes place just outside of our homes. The final line poses a question that is both poignant and somewhat absurd: "Do your potted plants really keep you company?" The line speaks to the loneliness that often accompanies modern urban living and offers an ironic contrast to the pigeon's struggle for survival.

The Pigeon Song is a haunting meditation on the tension between humans and the natural world, and the ways in which we attempt to insulate ourselves from discomfort and suffering. The song's sparse, acoustic instrumentation and Alela Diane's plaintive vocals serve to underscore the sense of isolation and longing in the lyrics. The song has been widely praised by critics and fans alike, and it showcases Alela Diane's talents as a songwriter and vocalist.

Line by Line Meaning

Street-wise pigeon we see you
We observe you, wise urban bird.

Camp on the sidewalk if we don't
You make your home on the pavement, unless we drive you away.

Hear you anymore
If we stop paying attention to you, will you disappear?

Where did you lose your voice
Did you always sound so tired and hoarse?

And how did you lose the trees
Did you once live among branches and leaves, before the city swallowed them up?

Did they make your tangled feathers glow
Did the leaves reflect light onto your feathers, making them sparkle?

Did they let your tattered chest flow
Did the trees shelter you from the harsh elements, allowing you to rest in comfort?

From the blatant backs of buildings
You now reside in the exposed alleyways and behind towering structures.

Where stagnant airs heat in the sun
The air in these areas is stale and hot due to a lack of circulation or greenery.

So we put our curtains up and ignore the sounds that break walls down
We try to insulate ourselves from the realities of the streets by hiding behind closed curtains and ignoring the chaos outside.

Break walls down
The noises that echo between buildings are a reminder of the fragility of our walls and the barriers we create.

Do your potted plants really keep you company
Is the only natural life you have left your houseplants, which offer little companionship?

Do your potted plants really keep you company
As humans, we fill our homes with plants to create a sense of comfort and familiarity, but is that enough?

Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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