Amy Ray (born Amy Elizabeth Ray on April 12, 1964) is an American singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Amy Ray (born Amy Elizabeth Ray on April 12, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls. She pursues a solo career and has released six albums under her own name, and founded a record company, Daemon Records.

In 2001, she released her first solo album, Stag. That year, she toured solo with the Butchies as her band. Then in 2005, her second solo project, Prom was released. In December of 2006, Amy released Live From Knoxville, a live recording from a show at Blue Cats in October of 2005. In August 2008 she released her latest album Didn't It Feel Kinder, this is the first album she made with the help of a producer, Greg Griffith.

All three albums were released on Amy's independent record label, Daemon Records.

Fans of the Indigo Girls can expect a rawer, punkier, and rockier sound.

Birds of a Feather
Amy Ray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey Brother
it's hard to be close
Hey Brother
it's hard to be close
Taught to dodge
and stay shut up

Hey Brother

it's hard to be touched
Hey Brother
it's hard to be touched
Taught to hide
and dress alone

If we are birds of a feather
why can't we migrate?
If we are birds of a feather
why can't we fly in
formation or just be friends
on the way?

Hey Brother
Why can't we call?
Hey brother
I need love to grow
Why can't we show
ourselves at all?

Cause if we are birds of a feather
why can't we migrate?
If we are birds of a feather
why can't we fly in

formation or just be friends
on the way?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Amy Ray's song Birds of a Feather delve into the struggles of brotherhood, particularly the challenge of being close and vulnerable with one another. The opening lines, "Hey Brother, it's hard to be close," set the tone for the song's exploration of the often-complicated dynamics of male relationships. The second line, "Hey Brother, it's hard to be touched," emphasizes the difficulty of physically connecting with another man due to societal norms that discourage physical affection between men.

The lines "Taught to dodge and stay shut up" and "Taught to hide and dress alone" reflect the societal pressure on men to repress their emotions and maintain a facade of toughness. This repression can lead to a lack of intimacy and closeness in male relationships, making it challenging to create lasting connections. Despite being "birds of a feather," or having common experiences and identities, the fear and pressure to conform to societal norms limit their ability to migrate or fly in formation towards deep and meaningful connections.

The chorus of the song repeats the question, "If we are birds of a feather, why can't we migrate?" This question addresses the societal barriers that limit the ability of men to form strong connections with other men. The song implores men to break free of these constraints so they can fly in formation or just be friends on the way. The final lines of the song, "Hey brother, I need love to grow / Why can't we show ourselves at all?" emphasize that love and vulnerability are essential to personal growth and fulfillment.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey Brother
Addressing someone, possibly a sibling or friend

it's hard to be close
It's difficult to be emotionally intertwined and connected

Taught to dodge
Trained to avoid getting too close to others

and stay shut up
Told to keep quiet and not express oneself

Hey Brother
Addressing someone, possibly a sibling or friend

it's hard to be touched
It's difficult to allow oneself to receive affection

Taught to hide
Trained to conceal one's emotions and true self

and dress alone
Encouraged to be independent and self-sufficient

If we are birds of a feather
If we share commonalities and similarities

why can't we migrate?
Why can't we move and grow together?

If we are birds of a feather
If we share commonalities and similarities