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.
Beware
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the latest pie that fate could cook
This is no phenom, so supermarket guru
Just a revelation from me to you
So don't believe a thing that you might hear
At least from the last 30-40 years
'Cause it wasn't long ago just before the reign of Nero
So beware, children beware, the devil may care
Six little soldiers with stripes on their shoulders
Never with a thought to dare
So take aim, children take aim
The drill sergeant sang with ample perspiration ordered
Stop your respiration
And end the flow of oxygen to the brain
So wake up, sleepyheads, listen what I have to say
As you near your Independence Day
Just keep in mind, in time your find so few
So few have your best interests in mind
So don't believe a thing you might hear
At least from the last 3-4,000 years
'Cause is wasn't long ago just before the reign of Nero
We had no concept of zero
So beware, children beware
The devil may care
And maybe he's the only one
These lyrics from Andrew Bird's song "Beware" caution listeners about blindly accepting information without questioning its validity. Bird suggests that knowledge and understanding are constantly evolving, and what may seem to be established truths may actually be inaccurate. The reference to the concept of zero before Nero's reign highlights the ever-changing nature of human knowledge and understanding.
There is also a theme of control and power throughout the song, particularly in the line "Six little soldiers with stripes on their shoulders / Never with a thought to dare," which suggests that those in power may prioritize obedience over independent thought. The mention of the drill sergeant's order to stop breathing further emphasizes this idea of control and subjugation.
Overall, "Beware" encourages listeners to be critical of the information they receive and to think for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Step right on up, take a good good look
Come closer and pay attention
At the latest pie that fate could cook
At whatever life has thrown your way recently
This is no phenom, so supermarket guru
It's not a miraculous revelation, like something you'd find in a self-help book
Just a revelation from me to you
Just some advice from me to you
So don't believe a thing that you might hear
Be skeptical of what you're told
At least from the last 30-40 years
Especially within recent history
'Cause it wasn't long ago just before the reign of Nero
Even concepts we take for granted now, like the number 'zero,' were unknown to people not too long ago
We had no concept of zero
This fact serves as an example of how our understanding of the world is constantly evolving
So beware, children beware, the devil may care
Watch out and be careful, because the wrong people may not have your best interests in mind
Six little soldiers with stripes on their shoulders
People in positions of power, probably military or police officers
Never with a thought to dare
They may not question their orders or realize the potential harm they may be causing
So take aim, children take aim
Make a decision and commit to it
The drill sergeant sang with ample perspiration ordered
The person in charge is exerting a lot of effort and energy to get people to comply
Stop your respiration
To stop breathing
And end the flow of oxygen to the brain
Which would cause neurological damage or death
So wake up, sleepyheads, listen what I have to say
Don't be complacent, pay attention to what's happening
As you near your Independence Day
As you come closer to achieving your goals
Just keep in mind, in time you'll find so few
As you progress, you'll notice that there are few people who have your best interests in mind
So few have your best interests in mind
This means that you may have to look out for yourself and not rely on others for help
And maybe he's the only one
It's possible that the devil is the only one who truly understands and recognizes this fact
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind