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.
Dora Goes to Town
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's got two ply, no fly, baby buggers
She's got a burlap sack, she's on a voter parade
Gonna get some carob cigars and some lemonade
No need to put your ear to the ground
Dora Munch is coming to town
She puts eggs in her orange juice, coffee in her tea
Ashes and mashes and dust and mustard
Creamed spinach sandwich and she cuts the crusts off
Don't let it show that you wanted some
Dora Munch is coming to town
She's got a ham in her handbag, a pig in her purse
She's got two ply, no fly, baby buggers
Burlap sack, voter parade
Gonna get some carob cigars and some lemonade
No, no need to put your ear to the ground
Dora Munch is coming to town
She puts eggs in her orange juice, coffee in her tea
Puts olives in her jelly, says that's the way it's gonna be
Ashes to ashes and dust and mustard
[Incomprehensible]
Don't let it show that you wanted some
Dora Munch is coming to town, yes sir
Dora Munch is coming to town, you heard me the first time
Dora Munch is coming to town
The lyrics of "Dora Goes to Town" by Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire paint a vivid picture of a character named Dora Munch, who is described as eccentric and unconventional. The first verse describes the various items she carries with her, including a ham in her handbag and a pig in her purse, indicating that she is not afraid to break societal norms. She is also depicted as being health-conscious, as she plans to purchase carob cigars and lemonade.
The second verse further emphasizes her idiosyncrasies by listing her unusual food preferences, such as putting eggs in her orange juice and olives in her jelly. She also enjoys creamed spinach sandwiches and cuts off the crusts, which may suggest that she has a childlike or playful nature. The repeated refrain that "Dora Munch is coming to town" suggests that she is a well-known figure and possibly a source of amusement or fascination for the townspeople.
Overall, the lyrics of "Dora Goes to Town" celebrate individuality and unconventional living, urging listeners to embrace their quirks and nonconformity like Dora.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got a ham in her handbag, a pig in her purse
She's carrying around unusual items with her wherever she goes
She's got two ply, no fly, baby buggers
She has a preference for a specific type of tissue paper
She's got a burlap sack, she's on a voter parade
She's participating in a political event and carrying campaign materials
Gonna get some carob cigars and some lemonade
She's planning to purchase specific food items
No need to put your ear to the ground
There's no need to listen for any clues or hints
Dora Munch is coming to town
Dora Munch is arriving in the area
She puts eggs in her orange juice, coffee in her tea
She has unconventional tastes when it comes to mixing food and drink
Puts olives in her jelly, says that's the way it's gonna be
She insists on eating her food in a specific, unique way
Ashes and mashes and dust and mustard
She's listing out random, seemingly unrelated items
Creamed spinach sandwich and she cuts the crusts off
She has specific traits and preferences for her food
Don't let it show that you wanted some
She doesn't want to share her food with others
Dora Munch is coming to town, yes sir
Dora Munch is indeed arriving to the area
Dora Munch is coming to town, you heard me the first time
The singer is reiterating the fact that Dora is arriving
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
filet lie hide
I love your music it surprises me this was made in 2000
Twin Lakes
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