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.
Glass Figurine
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why must you be so mean?
Don't you know I've got better things to do
I'm like a mail order product from a housekeeping magazine
How utterly embarrassing,
Well lady I'm not going to dance that dance
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy,
Your rosy-cheeked joy,
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want
But I won't be your glass figurine
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy,
Your rosy-cheeked joy,
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want
But I won't be your glass figurine
I'm like a mail-order product from a housekeeping magazine
I'll do anything you want
But I won't be your glass figurine
The lyrics of Andrew Bird's Glass Figurine describe a situation in which the singer is being treated as a possession by his lover. He compares himself to a little glass figurine, positioned on a mantle, while his lover treats him with indifference and even cruelty. The singer is frustrated and embarrassed by this treatment, feeling like he has better things to do than be an object of his lover's whims. The song expresses a desire to be his own person, to be able to make his own choices and not be controlled by someone else.
The image of the glass figurine is particularly powerful, as it suggests both fragility and a lack of autonomy. The singer feels trapped in his current situation, unable to break free from his lover's grasp. He resists taking on the role of the obedient child or pet, instead asserting his independence and refusing to be molded into a shape that doesn't suit him. The song deals with themes of power dynamics, control, and the struggle for agency within a relationship.
Overall, Glass Figurine is a poignant and introspective piece of music, which captivates the listener with its hypnotic melody and evocative lyrics. The song captures the emotional complexity of human relationships, and the difficulties that arise when we try to reconcile our own desires with those of our partners.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got me sitting on your mantle like a little glass figurine
I feel trapped and powerless, like an inanimate decoration, in your control
Why must you be so mean?
I don't understand why you need to be so cruel to me
Don't you know I've got better things to do
I have my own life and priorities, and I don't want to waste my time being manipulated by you
I'm like a mail order product from a housekeeping magazine
You're treating me like an object that you can order and control, devoid of personality or feelings
How utterly embarrassing,
This situation is humiliating and degrading for me
Well lady I'm not going to dance that dance
I refuse to participate in this toxic dynamic you're creating
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
I won't play the role you've assigned me; leave me alone and let someone or something else fill that void
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
Your manipulations and false sweetness won't deceive me or weaken my resolve
No, I'm not your little boy,
I won't let you infantilize me or treat me like a subordinate
Your rosy-cheeked joy,
I won't let you force me into a specific emotional state or mindset
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
Despite everything, I feel calm and hopeful about the future
I'll do anything you want
I won't let you control me, but I'm willing to make some compromises in order to move on from this situation
But I won't be your glass figurine
Ultimately, I won't let you objectify or control me, and I'll maintain my sense of agency and self-respect
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW WEGMAN BIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cecilia Ancheyta
You've got me sitting on your mantle like a little glass figurine
Why must you be so mean?
Don't you know I've got better things to do
I'm like a mail order product from a housekeeping magazine
How utterly embarrassing
Well lady I'm not going to dance that dance
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy, your rosy-cheeked joy
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want, but I won't be your glass figurine
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy, your rosy-cheeked joy
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want, but I won't be your glass figurine
I'm like a mail-order product from a housekeeping magazine
I'll do anything you want, but I won't be your glass figurine
No, I won't be your glass figurine
No, I won't be your glass figurine
Harmful Content
You've got me sitting on your mantle like a little glass figurine
Why must you be so mean?
Don't you know I've got better things to do
I'm like a mail order product from a housekeeping magazine
How utterly embarrassing,
Well lady I'm not going to dance that dance
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy,
Your rosy-cheeked joy,
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want
But I won't be your glass figurine
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy,
Your rosy-cheeked joy,
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want
But I won't be your glass figurine
I'm like a mail-order product from a housekeeping magazine
I'll do anything you want
But I won't be your glass figurine
FYI: As the cover of the album says, this song is by Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire band, which I believe is different than his solo stuff done under just Andrew Bird
FireBird-
Such a fun song. This album is a gem.
XPiRiMiNT
My favorite song of the day! Love the diversity over the span of his releases
Mmanko
I was sooo lucky to hear this album whilst getting tattooed, my artist so cool. I love the whole album.
Jody Melto
Props to you, man! I love the song and when small channels have high quality videos and get lots of subscribers! Good day to you!
mariadaferera
This is my favourite song <3 :))))
chihuahuasarecute123
He made this album when I was born.... Wow.... He deffinately changed over the years. :) I like this though.
Cecilia Ancheyta
You've got me sitting on your mantle like a little glass figurine
Why must you be so mean?
Don't you know I've got better things to do
I'm like a mail order product from a housekeeping magazine
How utterly embarrassing
Well lady I'm not going to dance that dance
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy, your rosy-cheeked joy
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want, but I won't be your glass figurine
Let the giraffes do it, let the sad clown cry
Your porcelain kisses are not going to turn me shy
No, I'm not your little boy, your rosy-cheeked joy
Though the thought of you makes me sanguine
I'll do anything you want, but I won't be your glass figurine
I'm like a mail-order product from a housekeeping magazine
I'll do anything you want, but I won't be your glass figurine
No, I won't be your glass figurine
No, I won't be your glass figurine
Ek k
same
Fnoalle
Love the adding of K and W to NO!
daymeeeee
when people ask me "what do you mean, violin as a jazz instrument?" i just: