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.
Puma
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unguided particles in the air
Do you see particles in the air?
Nobody knows, notices, nobody cares, oh
Don't try to tell her, she's this feline, inhuman
'Cause it gives rise to the rumor she's a girl, and not a puma
And light that shines is not a pearl, it's just a tumor
She was radioactive for seven days
How I wanted to be holding her anyways
But the doctors, they told me to stay away
Due to flying neutrinos and the gamma rays, oh
Do you see particles?
Unguided particles
Particles
Don't try to tell her she's this feline, inhuman
'Cause it gives rise to the rumor she's a girl, and not a puma
Don't try to tell her she's a girl, that's just a rumor
And she was radioactive for seven days
How I wanted to be holding her anyway
But the doctors, they told me to stay away
Due to flying neutrinos and the gamma rays
She was radioactive for seven days
How I wanted to be holding her anyway
But the doctors, they told me, just stay away
Due to flying neutrinos and the gamma rays
The lyrics of Andrew Bird's song "Puma" convey a sense of mystery and longing, using the metaphor of particles in the air to explore themes of isolation and societal indifference. The repeated question of "Do you see particles in the air?" suggests a desire for connection and understanding, as if searching for someone who can perceive the unseen complexities of the world. The lines "Nobody knows, notices, nobody cares" emphasize the feeling of being overlooked and the indifference of others towards the particles, which could symbolize the hidden aspects of a person's identity or struggles.
The song introduces a character described as a "feline, inhuman," suggesting a woman who possesses qualities that defy societal norms or expectations. The lyrics imply that this woman is often mistaken or misunderstood, as the rumor circulates that she is a girl and not a puma. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the tendency to label and limit individuals based on societal constructs. The mention of the light that shines not being a pearl but a tumor further reinforces the idea that appearances can be deceiving.
The second half of the song narrates the singer's longing to be with this woman, who was radioactive for seven days. The doctors advise the singer to stay away due to the dangers of flying neutrinos and gamma rays, creating a sense of forbidden love and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of connection.
Overall, "Puma" explores themes of identity, isolation, and the desire for genuine connection amidst a world that often overlooks or misinterprets our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you see particles in the air?
Are you aware of the unguided elements floating around?
Unguided particles in the air
There are uncontrolled particles present in the atmosphere
Nobody knows, notices, nobody cares, oh
No one recognizes or pays attention to them
Don't try to tell her, she's this feline, inhuman
Don't attempt to convince her that she is a cat-like, non-human being
'Cause it gives rise to the rumor she's a girl, and not a puma
Because it leads to the spread of a false belief that she is a human girl, not a puma
And light that shines is not a pearl, it's just a tumor
And the glowing light is not a precious gem, but rather an abnormal growth
She was radioactive for seven days
She emitted radiation for a period of seven days
How I wanted to be holding her anyways
I desired to embrace her regardless
But the doctors, they told me to stay away
However, the medical professionals instructed me to keep my distance
Due to flying neutrinos and the gamma rays, oh
Because of the presence of high-energy particles known as neutrinos and gamma rays
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW WEGMAN BIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind