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.
How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said his wifey dear,
Now that all is peaceful and calm,
Soon our boys will be back on the farm.
Mister Reuben started winking,
And slowly rubbed his chin,
He pulled his chair up close to Mother,
Asked her with a grin
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no?
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no, oh no
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Jazzin' around,
And painting the town?
How ya gonna keep 'em
Away from harm?
That's the mystery,
They'll never want to see a rake or a plow,
And who the deuce can parley-vous a cow?
And how ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paris?
Reuben, Reuben, you're mistaken,
Said his wifey dear,
Once a farmer, always a jay, and
Farmers always stick to the hay.
Mother Reuben, I'm not fakin',
Though you may think it strange.
But wine and women play the mischief,
With a boy who's loose with change!
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down,
Oh no, oh no
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down?
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Jazzin' around,
And painting the town?
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm?
That's the mystery
Imagine Reuben when he meets his pa,
He'll pinch his cheek and holler "Ooh la la!"
How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paris, Paris?
The lyrics to Andrew Bird's song How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm depict a conversation between Reuben and his wife about their sons returning to the farm after being exposed to the city life, particularly to the glamor and excitement of Broadway in Paris. While his wife believes that farmers always stick to the hay and their sons will do the same, Reuben knows very well that the temptations of wine, women, and an exciting nightlife can change a person, especially one who's loose with change. The song ultimately asks the question of how one can make someone who's seen and experienced so much go back to the simple and mundane life of a farmer.
The first verse sets the stage for the conversation between Reuben and his wife, establishing that all is peaceful and calm before their boys return to the farm. The second verse is where the tension starts to build as Reuben realizes that his sons might not want to go back to their old life. In the chorus, the question is posed repeatedly - how are you going to keep them down on the farm? - and the mystery of how to do so is acknowledged. The final verse paints a picture of Reuben's sons returning to the farm, but not without bringing a little bit of Paris with them.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the allure of city life and a warning of how it can pull people away from their roots and heritage. It highlights the tension that can exist between traditional values and the excitement and progress of modernity.
Line by Line Meaning
Reuben, Reuben, I've been thinking,
Wifey is thinking to bring their boys back on the farm since everything is peaceful.
Now that all is peaceful and calm,
Wifey thinks this is the perfect time to bring their boys back home.
Soon our boys will be back on the farm.
Wifey is confident that their boys will soon return to the farm.
Mister Reuben started winking,
Reuben is amused and interested in what his wife has to say.
And slowly rubbed his chin,
Reuben is deep in thought about his wife's suggestion.
He pulled his chair up close to Mother,
Reuben is getting comfortable, ready to have a conversation about his wife's idea.
Asked her with a grin
Reuben is asking his wife about how to ensure their boys stay on the farm after returning.
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no?
How will they prevent their boys from leaving the farm again?
How ya gonna keep 'em down, oh no, oh no
Reuben is emphasizing how difficult it is to keep the boys on the farm.
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway?
Reuben is questioning how to keep the boys away from the big city life.
Jazzin' around,
Reuben is worried the boys will become distracted by the jazz music scene of the city.
And painting the town?
Reuben is worried the boys will get caught up in partying and nightlife of the city.
How ya gonna keep 'em
Reuben repeats the question, emphasizing how difficult it is to keep the boys on the farm.
Away from harm?
Reuben wants to protect his boys from harm, meaning they should stay on the farm.
That's the mystery,
The answer to how to keep the boys on the farm is still unknown and unsolved.
They'll never want to see a rake or a plow,
Reuben thinks his boys will no longer want to work on the farm after experiencing city life.
And who the deuce can parley-vous a cow?
Reuben is concerned his boys will not be able to relate to the farming lifestyle after experiencing city life.
And how ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
Reuben is still questioning how to prevent his boys from leaving the farm again.
After they've seen Paris?
Reuben is referring to Paris as the city, wondering how to keep the boys on the farm after experiencing city life there.
Reuben, Reuben, you're mistaken,
Wifey thinks Reuben is wrong to assume their boys will not return to the farm.
Once a farmer, always a jay, and
Wifey thinks that once someone has been a farmer, they will remain a farmer at heart.
Farmers always stick to the hay.
Wifey believes that farmers will always find their way back to their farming roots.
Mother Reuben, I'm not fakin',
Wifey is not lying, she truly believes their boys will return to the farm.
Though you may think it strange.
Wifey acknowledges that Reuben may not agree with her opinion.
But wine and women play the mischief,
Wifey believes that alcohol and women can entice their boys to stray from the farm.
With a boy who's loose with change!
Wifey fears that their boys' behavior could change in the city, making them more prone to leaving the farm.
Oh, how ya gonna keep 'em down,
Reuben is still struggling to figure out how to keep the boys on the farm.
Oh no, oh no
Reuben is emphasizing the difficulty of the problem.
Imagine Reuben when he meets his pa,
Reuben is imagining the disappointment his father would feel if he were to leave the farm.
He'll pinch his cheek and holler "Ooh la la!"
Reuben is imagining his father's reaction to his departure would be one of shock and dismay.
How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm
Reuben is still questioning how to prevent his boys from leaving the farm again.
After they've seen Paris, Paris?
Reuben is still wondering how to keep his boys on the farm after experiencing the city life of Paris.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WALTER DONALDSON, SAM M. LEWIS, JOE YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind