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.
Sic Of Elephants
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was never reason to worry
Money made your eyesight all blurry
Making lists of pacifists
Recalcitrant poses
Can't you see how dangerous
The one you chose is
Which brings us back to
So we learn from Wars of the Roses
Pain was only fear kneading your toeses
Making haste to spite your face to cut off your noses
Convince yourself and others that these
Fish smell like roses
Can't you see how dangerous
When you're too content to make a fuss
Can't you see how dangerous
Squint your eyes and see
Elephants, sycophants, elephants
Squint your ears and hear red-faced rants
Pleated pants
Sycophants
That's what you are
Can't you see how dangerous
When you're too content to make a fuss
In "Sic Of Elephants," Andrew Bird warns against the danger of complacency and the tendency to prioritize money and power over morality and justice. He criticizes those who are blinded by their pursuit of financial success, making lists of pacifists while ignoring the destructive consequences of their actions. Bird suggests that this blind greed leads to a culture where might makes right, where the powerful are able to maintain their dominance by force. He references the Wars of the Roses, a series of conflicts in 15th century England that were marked by brutal violence and political maneuvering. The pain of these wars, Bird suggests, is rooted in our own fear and complacency, the ease with which we convince ourselves that we are safe and secure.
Bird uses vivid imagery to illustrate his message. He describes the danger of cutting off our noses to spite our faces, of convincing ourselves that something smells like roses when it is actually rotten. He urges us to see clearly and to hear beyond the red-faced rants of those who seek power and control. The image of the elephant is particularly powerful, representing weighty, lumbering strength and a stubborn refusal to change.
Overall, Andrew Bird's "Sic Of Elephants" offers a sharp critique of our society's tendency towards greed, complacency, and the pursuit of power at all costs. It is a reminder that we must remain vigilant and hold ourselves and our leaders accountable for our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
You were right
The singer acknowledges that someone else was correct about something.
There was never reason to worry
There was no justification for feeling concerned or anxious.
Money made your eyesight all blurry
Wealth has caused the person to lose focus or perspective on what's important.
Making lists of pacifists
Creating a catalog or register of individuals who oppose war/military action.
Recalcitrant poses
Expressions or postures of resistance, stubbornness, or defiance.
Can't you see how dangerous
The singer is asking if the person recognizes the severity of the situation.
The one you chose is
Referring to a choice made by the person that could have negative consequences.
Which brings us back to
Relating the previous statement/idea to an earlier point or concept.
Might makes right
The idea that whoever is the strongest or most powerful is justified in their actions.
So we learn from Wars of the Roses
An allusion to a historical conflict with lessons to be gained from it.
Pain was only fear kneading your toeses
A metaphorical expression meaning that anxiety or apprehension was causing the person discomfort.
Making haste to spite your face to cut off your noses
Acting impulsively or recklessly, resulting in self-harm or negative consequences.
Convince yourself and others that these
Attempting to persuade oneself or others that something negative is actually positive or desirable.
Fish smell like roses
Another example of attempting to portray something unpleasant in a positive light.
When you're too content to make a fuss
When someone is complacent or apathetic rather than speaking up against injustice or negative behavior.
Squint your eyes and see
Metaphorical instruction to look more closely or carefully.
Elephants, sycophants, elephants
Repetition of these two words, possibly to evoke a feeling of absurdity or emphasize their negative connotations.
Squint your ears and hear red-faced rants
A suggestion to listen more closely for angry, irrational outbursts.
Pleated pants
A specific detail that could represent conformity or adhering to rigid societal norms.
Sycophants
People who flatter or excessively praise others, often for personal gain.
That's what you are
A direct accusation or insult towards the person.
Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.