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.
Bellevue
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeds my hungry heart when it feels like fallow
Now I find myself always on the ins and never on the outs
Who guides my lonely ships on through the shallows
I think I found someone
The lyrics of Andrew Bird's song "Bellevue" convey a sense of finding solace and fulfillment in the midst of a challenging and desolate environment. The opening lines, "Now I find someone who can slake my thirst in a land beset by drought, feeds my hungry heart when it feels like fallow," metaphorically represent the search for someone who can fulfill emotional needs in a world that lacks sustenance. The land beset by drought symbolizes a harsh and barren existence, while the thirst and hunger represent a deep longing for connection and love. The mention of fallow suggests a period of emptiness or unproductivity, emphasizing the need for nourishment and attention.
The following lines, "Now I find myself always on the ins and never on the outs, who guides my lonely ships on through the shallows," further emphasize the newfound sense of belonging and guidance. "On the ins and never on the outs" implies being included and accepted, contrasting with a previous state of feeling excluded or marginalized. The image of lonely ships being guided through the shallows represents assistance and support in navigating through difficult and shallow situations, suggesting a source of comfort and guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I find someone who can slake my thirst in a land beset by drought
In a barren and challenging environment, I have finally discovered someone who can satisfy my deepest desires and emotional needs.
Feeds my hungry heart when it feels like fallow
This person nourishes my yearning and empty heart, especially during times when it feels unproductive or depleted.
Now I find myself always on the ins and never on the outs
I am consistently included and accepted by this person, never feeling excluded or left out.
Who guides my lonely ships on through the shallows
This person provides guidance and support, leading me through difficult and shallow situations or emotions.
I think I found someone
I believe that I have discovered a special person who fulfills me on a deep level.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW WEGMAN BIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind