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.
Scythian Empire
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While handpicked tenderness kid-gloves tear at the inseam
Their Halliburton attaché cases are useless
While scotch guard Macintoshes shall be carbonized
Now they’re offering views of exiting empire
Such breathtaking views of Scythian empires
Scythian empire, horsemen of the Russia steppe
Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
Scythian empire, exiting empire
Scythian empire, exiting empire
Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
Kings of Macedonia, Scythian empire
The lyrics to Andrew Bird's "Scythian Empire" are full of allusions and references to different historical, political, and cultural events. The first verse is a kind of apocalyptic warning, describing a future where the weather is terrible, and people with power and privilege are suddenly helpless. The lines "Five day forecast bring black tall rains and hellfire / While handpicked tenderness kid-gloves tear at the inseam" suggest that even those who think they are safe and secure will not be able to protect themselves from the chaos and destruction that is coming. The reference to Halliburton, a company known for its connection to the US government and the military-industrial complex, adds a political dimension to the song.
The chorus of the song is where the title comes in: "Scythian empire, horsemen of the Russian steppe / Scythian empire, archers of an afterthought / Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians / Scythian empire." The Scythians were a nomadic people who lived in what is now Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan from around the 9th century BCE to the 4th century BCE. They were skilled horsemen and warriors, and their empire was vast and influential. However, they were eventually defeated by various other groups, including the ancient Greeks referenced in the chorus.
The song seems to be a commentary on the hubris of powerful nations and individuals, and the precariousness of their positions. The Scythian empire was once dominant, but it fell apart in the face of external pressures and internal problems. The "breathtaking views" of the empire that are being offered now are a kind of empty promise, suggesting that the people in charge are clinging to the past and unable to see the present and future clearly.
Line by Line Meaning
Five day forecast bring black tall rains and hellfire
The upcoming weather forecast indicates that there will be heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and fire outbreaks.
While handpicked tenderness kid-gloves tear at the inseam
People in positions of power use a deceptive gentle approach to manipulate and tear others apart from the inside.
Their Halliburton attaché cases are useless
The authorities' attempts to bring order and control through force are ineffective and pointless.
While scotch guard Macintoshes shall be carbonized
Even the most sophisticated and advanced technologies will eventually be destroyed.
Now they're offering views of exiting empire
The current leaders are promoting the idea of leaving behind the current empire or society they have built.
Such breathtaking views of Scythian empires
But their vision for a future empire or way of life is flawed by romanticizing and glorifying past empires, such as the Scythians.
Scythian empire, horsemen of the Russia steppe
The Scythian empire was a society of horse-riding warriors from the steppes of Russia.
Scythian empire, archers of an afterthought
But despite their reputation as master archers, the Scythians were ultimately a footnote in history.
Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians
They were defeated by the Achaeans and Thracians, demonstrating that even the most powerful empires can fall to lesser-known groups.
Scythian empire, exiting empire
The Scythian empire, just like any other empire before it, also came to an end.
Kings of Macedonia, Scythian empire
In contrast, the Kings of Macedonia and the Scythian empires represent opposing approaches to leadership and power.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind