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.
Nervous Tic
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the mister
We had survived to
Turn on the History Channel
And ask our esteemed panel
Why are we alive?
And here's how they replied
You're what happens when two substances collide
Stretched out on a tarmac
Six miles south of North Platte
He can't stand to look back
Sixteen tons of hazmat
It goes undelivered
Undelivered
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
Of the what, of the head to the left
So exercise yourselves to your bereft
'Cause it's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left of the, of the, to the
Splayed out on a bath mat
Six miles north of South Platte
He just wants his life back
What's in that paper nap sack
It goes undelivered
Undelivered
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
A nervous tic motion of the head
Head to the left
It's a nervous tic motion of the, of the, to the left
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the, of the, of the head of the head to the
Over imbibed
Under the mister
Barely alive we cover the blisters in flannel
Though the words we speak are banal
Now one of them's a lie
Now one of them's a lie
Happens when two substances collide
And by all accounts you really should have died
The lyrics of Andrew Bird's song Nervous Tic tell a story of drug addiction and its consequences. The first verse talks about being overprescribed and under the mister (a term for being high on drugs), and surviving to question the meaning of their existence. The History Channel is then turned on, and a panel is asked why they are alive. The answer is that they are what happens when two substances collide, and they should have died by now. This speaks to the dangerous nature of drug addiction, as well as the feeling of aimlessness and questioning that can come with it.
The second verse tells the story of someone who can't go back, and is carrying hazmat that goes undelivered. It's left ambiguous what exactly is in the bag, but it adds a sense of danger and urgency to the lyrics. The chorus repeats the phrase "nervous tic motion of the head to the left" several times, which could refer to a physical manifestation of anxiety or drug use. The bridge talks about being barely alive and covering the blisters in flannel, while lying to themselves and others about their situation.
Overall, Nervous Tic is a poignant commentary on addiction and its consequences. It highlights the aimlessness and danger that can come with drug use, while also touching on the physical and emotional toll it takes on a person.
Line by Line Meaning
Overprescribed
We are taking drugs prescribed to us even when we aren't sure we need them
Under the mister
We are living our lives comfortably, but without a clear sense of purpose
We had survived to
We have managed to make it this far, despite the challenges and uncertainties we face
Turn on the History Channel
We seek answers and clarity about the meaning of our existence
And ask our esteemed panel
We seek guidance and expertise from those who are supposed to have answers
Why are we alive?
We wonder about the purpose and meaning of our existence
And here's how they replied
We are given an answer, but it may not be what we want or expect
You're what happens when two substances collide
Our existence is the result of chance and random events, rather than any grand plan
And by all accounts you really should have died
Given the randomness of our existence, it's a miracle that any of us survive
Stretched out on a tarmac
We feel stuck, unable to move or make progress
Six miles south of North Platte
We are in a specific location, but it doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things
He can't stand to look back
We try to move forward and not dwell on the past
Sixteen tons of hazmat
We are carrying a heavy burden, which may be harmful or dangerous
It goes undelivered
We are unable to deliver or complete the task we set out to do
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
We have an unconscious, involuntary reaction that reflects our anxiety and uncertainty
Of the what, of the head to the left
We are unsure of what specifically is causing our anxiety and involuntary movements
So exercise yourselves to your bereft
We try to distract ourselves from our anxiety by keeping busy, even when it is pointless
'Cause it's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left of the, of the, to the
Our anxiety is persistent and not easily resolved
Splayed out on a bath mat
We are helpless and vulnerable, without any clear direction or guidance
Six miles north of South Platte
We are still in a specific location, but it doesn't matter any more than it did before
He just wants his life back
We long for a sense of purpose and direction that seems out of reach
What's in that paper nap sack
We are carrying something with us that is valuable or important, but we aren't sure what it is
Over imbibed
We have consumed too much alcohol or other substances, which has clouded our judgment and made us feel worse
Barely alive we cover the blisters in flannel
We struggle to hide our pain and discomfort, even when we can barely function
Though the words we speak are banal
We struggle to communicate and express ourselves, resorting to clichés and meaningless platitudes
Now one of them's a lie
We may be dishonest with ourselves or others, hiding our true feelings and motivations
Happens when two substances collide
Once again, we are reminded that our existence is the result of chance and randomness, rather than any grand plan
And by all accounts you really should have died
Despite the odds, we continue to survive and struggle to find meaning in our lives
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind