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.
Natural Disaster
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too often and too cold
But you aren't even listening
Because you are just
Too old to feel an earthquake
Or too cool to even care
But you aren't even listening
You are
A natural disaster
And I've wanted you too much
And now I'm gonna lose
I've wanted you too much
And now I've gotta choose
You're the cause of all this
And I'm sick of trying to please you
And you're gonna feel my emotions coming
Because you're the world
Like a broken damn you're empty
And all that's left are the sticks and stones
That were built by other people
And it really shows
But you aren't even listening
Because you are just
Too old to feel an earthquake
Or too cool to even care
But you aren't even listening
So why should I?
You are
A natural disaster
And I've wanted you too much
And now I'm gonna lose
I've wanted you too much
And now I've gotta choose
You're the cause of all this
And I'm sick of trying to please you
And you're gonna feel my emotions coming
Because you're the world
The lyrics to Andrew Bird's "Natural Disaster" describe a relationship that has become like a force of nature, completely beyond control, with the singer feeling powerless to stop the inevitable destruction it will bring. The relationship is described as conforming on a Monday, too cold and too often, lacking any real warmth or passion. The singer's partner is portrayed as being unresponsive and uninterested, either because they are too old to feel an earthquake or too cool to even care. Despite the singer's attempts to please their partner, they are unable to connect on a deep level and the relationship begins to crumble. The singer ultimately blames their partner, viewing them as a natural disaster that they cannot control or stop.
The imagery throughout the song highlights the destructive power of the relationship, likening it to a broken dam and the resulting flood of sticks and stones. The singer emphasizes that their partner is the cause of all this and they are sick of trying to please them without receiving any emotional support in return. The song ends with a sense of resignation, as the singer realizes that they have wanted their partner too much and now must choose between continuing to be with them and facing the inevitable destruction that will follow or letting go and accepting the loss.
Overall, the lyrics to "Natural Disaster" express the fragility of human relationships, highlighting how even the most powerful forces of nature can pale in comparison to the destructive power of a failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Conforming on a Monday
Starting the week with the same old routine, conforming to expectations
Too often and too cold
The routine is monotonous and unfeeling
But you aren't even listening
The subject of the song is ignoring the singer's concerns
Because you are just
They are so set in their ways, they can't see beyond themselves
Too old to feel an earthquake
Their emotional state has been hardened by time and experiences
Or too cool to even care
Alternatively, they may believe themselves above the singer's worries
But you aren't even listening
Reiterating the apathy of the subject
So why should I?
The artist is tired of trying to get their attention
You are
Transitioning to the chorus
A natural disaster
Comparing the subject's apathy or egotism to a catastrophic event, causing damage and wreaking havoc
And I've wanted you too much
Despite the destructive nature, the singer has feelings for them
And now I'm gonna lose
However, the artist knows they can't keep trying to please them or put up with the behavior
I've wanted you too much
Reiterating that the singer is at fault for pursuing them despite the consequences
And now I've gotta choose
The time has come for the singer to decide whether to continue this cycle or leave
You're the cause of all this
Blaming the subject for the turmoil in the singer's life
And I'm sick of trying to please you
Expressing fatigue and frustration with the one-sided relationship
And you're gonna feel my emotions coming
Suggesting that the artist will confront the subject with their true feelings
Because you're the world
The subject is so all-consuming, that the singer can't help but be affected by them
Like a broken damn you're empty
Using a metaphor to describe how the subject is emotionally depleted and incapable of reciprocating the singer's feelings
And all that's left are the sticks and stones
The subject is hollow and incapable of forming a real connection
That were built by other people
Emphasizing that the subject's emotional inability is not the artist's fault
And it really shows
Reinforcing the fact that the subject's façade of strength is crumbling
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind