His early work, which echoed gypsy jazz and traditional folk, has led into his current sound, which mixes rock with more broad compositions. His years of solo song-craft have now enabled him to produce a sound that is uniquely his own.
Trained by the Suzuki method from a young age and a graduate of Illinois' Northwestern University, Bird released his first solo album, Music of Hair, in 1996. Vastly different from his later releases, this first album showcases his violin skills and pays tribute to his fascination with both American and European folk traditions, as well as jazz and blues.
His initial commercial exposure was in collaborative work with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers. He was quickly lumped in with the swing craze that swept the United States music industry in the mid '90s; this is an affiliation that he is still working to shed.
Taking on the role of band leader in 1997 with Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, he released the album Thrills. This was followed by Oh! The Grandeur in 1998. Both albums were heavily influenced by traditional folk, pre-war jazz and swing, with Bird relying on the violin as his primary musical instrument.
In 2001, Bird released The Swimming Hour, his third release with the Bowl of Fire and a dramatic departure from previous recordings. The Swimming Hour featured a mixture of styles, from the zydeco-influenced "Core and Rind" to more straightforward rock songs. He has often referred to this record as his "jukebox album".
The Bowl of Fire unofficially disbanded some time in 2003, having featured many skilled Chicago musicians including Kevin O'Donnell, Nora O'Connor, Andy Hopkins (aka Mr. Rudy Day), Jimmy Sutton, Colin Bunn and Ryan Hembrey.
Bird then released two subsequent solo albums, both distributed through the label operated by Ani DiFranco, Righteous Babe Records. The two records, 2003's Weather Systems and 2005's The Mysterious Production of Eggs, continue a progression towards an eclectic indie folk sound that has proven challenging to classify.
Bird's live solo shows have been notable in that he uses a multi-track system to sample and loop his own performance. For example, he may record a snippet of his performance on violin, then play a "loop" of that sound. This provides a more full-bodied sound and aurally suggests a band performance, rather than the sound of a solo artist.
Bird's next full-length album Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum) was released on March 20th 2007.
November 2007 saw the Soldier On EP originally a European tour-only release. But due to high demand and unanticipated critical acclaim was released digitally and in CD-format on both sides of the Atlantic. Critics and fans alike have hearkened to the EP's first track, "The Trees Were Mistaken", a complex yet austere looping composition that marks a departure from Bird's earlier body of work. It also contains a cover of Bob Dylan's "Oh Sister".
January 2009 saw Noble Beast, also available with instrumental album Useless Creatures, released worldwide to positive reviews.
The Fatal Shore Songfacts reports that Break it Yourself, Bird's sixth solo studio album, was released on March 6, 2012 through Mom+Pop records in the US and Bella Union in the UK. The origins of the LP lie in a couple of jam sessions by a gathering of Bird's friends in the singer's western Illinois barn, near the banks of the Mississippi River.
Of his 2019 album My Finest Work Yet, Talia Schlanger of NPR says "Bird zooms way out on humanity across history's timeline, seeking insight about our current age, in a way he hopes 'stays above the news feed noise.'" Many tracks, including the opener "Sisyphus," include Andrew's trademark whistling.
11:11
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plastic cup in her hand
Standing on the corner
Saving for some gin
Don't need to ask where she's been or what's up
She'll gladly tell you about the life she had
Before she had the cup
Standing by the window
Glass of milk in his hand
Standing by the window
Glass of milk in his hand
What could I have done what could I have said
Broken glass spilled milk lying on the floor looking dead
Window pain
Cutting through the rain looks so easy
Frame by frame
Looking for a name to claim on a breezy afternoon
And the ends coming soon
And the ends coming soon
So many people hold a cup
So many die drinking milk in front of a window
I once knew a woman who got in the way
Of the intentions of a windy day
Listen,
Don't hold a cup in any season
Don't' make me choose between rhyme or reason
Don't drink that milk in front of that window
You might as well blame it on the will that the wind chose
Window pain
Cutting through the rain looks so easy
Frame by frame
Looking for a name to claim on a breezy afternoon
And the ends coming soon
And the ends coming soon
The song "11-11" by Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire tells the story of two people standing on a street corner and by a window, both holding a different kind of cup. The first person is a woman holding a plastic cup, saving money for gin, while the second person is a man holding a glass of milk by the window. The lyrics describe their situations and hint at a deeper message - one that cautions against the dangers of life.
The first verse establishes the setting, and the second verse shifts the focus to the man holding the glass of milk. The lines "What could I have done, what could I have said?" and "Broken glass, spilled milk, lying on the floor looking dead" evoke a feeling of helplessness and sadness. The lyrics suggest that something bad has happened, but the cause is not clear. This creates a sense of unease within the listener – a feeling that something is going to happen soon and that no one can do anything about it.
The chorus adds to this feeling by repeating the ominous line "And the end's coming soon." The next verse continues the theme of danger and hopelessness with the lines "So many people hold a cup / So many die drinking milk in front of a window." The song's final lines act as a call to action, telling the listener not to follow in the footsteps of the people described in the song. With lines such as "Listen / Don't hold a cup in any season" and "Don't drink that milk in front of that window," the lyrics suggest that there is an alternative way of living – one where a person chooses their own path, rather than following others.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the corner
Starting off the story by introducing a woman standing on the street corner.
Plastic cup in her hand
She's holding a plastic cup, perhaps to collect money or to drink from.
Saving for some gin
She's collecting money to buy gin, an alcoholic drink.
Don't need to ask where she's been or what's up
The woman is open about telling her life story to anyone who asks. No need to probe or investigate.
She'll gladly tell you about the life she had
The woman is willing to share her past experiences and hardships.
Before she had the cup
Before the woman resorted to begging, she had a different life.
Standing by the window
Shifting to a man, he's standing by a window.
Glass of milk in his hand
He's holding a glass of milk, a contrast to the woman's gin.
What could I have done what could I have said
The artist is questioning what he could have done differently to avoid a bad situation.
Broken glass spilled milk lying on the floor looking dead
A metaphor to describe a situation that once was good but is now shattered and ruined.
Window pain
Playing on the homophone of 'window pane', which is a part of a glass window that can bring both beauty and pain.
Cutting through the rain looks so easy
The pain or struggle may be hard to overcome, but from afar, it looks effortless.
Frame by frame
Describing the process of searching through memories or a situation for answers.
Looking for a name to claim on a breezy afternoon
Looking for a justification or explanation for what happened on a casual and relaxed day.
And the ends coming soon
Implying the end of something, whether that be a situation, relationship, or life itself.
So many people hold a cup
Reflecting on how common begging or holding a cup for money is.
So many die drinking milk in front of a window
People can easily fall into a routine or bad habit without realizing the consequences, just like drinking milk in front of a window.
I once knew a woman who got in the way
A personal anecdote about someone who ruined their own path due to their actions.
Of the intentions of a windy day
Comparing the unpredictable nature of the wind to the unpredictability of life and fate.
Listen,
A call to pay attention and understand the message being conveyed.
Don't hold a cup in any season
A warning not to resort to begging or asking for handouts in any situation or time of year.
Don't' make me choose between rhyme or reason
An ultimatum between choosing emotion or logic.
Don't drink that milk in front of that window
A warning not to fall into habits or routines that can hinder progress or growth.
You might as well blame it on the will that the wind chose
Blaming actions or choices on the unpredictability of life seems pointless and unproductive.
And the ends coming soon
Repeating the idea that something will come to an end, prompting the listener to take action or reflect on their current situation.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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