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.
Song of Foot
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my mind doesn't have my best interests in mind
Doesn't have my best interests in mind
To times like these that my feet, they speak and sing
'cause they do so better than can my hand
'cause when I play any regular sort of tune
Like a [Incomprehensible] or a waltz or a jig or aria
My feet will have nothing to do it's a proper time
No, my feet will have nothing to do it's a proper time
Times when I am worth it
And my mind doesn't have my best interests in mind
Doesn't have my best interests in mind
To times like these that my feet, they speak and sing
'cause they do so better than can my hand
Let them speak their heady opinions though
And you'll hear oil and butter, oil and butter
Lots of oil and some butter, oil and butter
The lyrics to Andrew Bird's "Song of Foot" describe the way in which the singer's mind and body can be at odds with one another. When the singer's mind is clouded and not thinking clearly, their feet are the ones that take over and guide them through the world. The feet are not burdened by the same anxieties and fears that can plague the mind, and so the singer finds a sense of freedom and comfort in allowing their feet to lead the way.
The singer acknowledges that their feet have a musical quality to them, and that they are capable of creating rhythms and melodies that are beyond the capabilities of the singer's hands. The feet are not tied to any particular style of music, and so they can move in any direction that they please. However, there are times when the feet have nothing to do, and this is when the singer's mind takes over once more.
Ultimately, the lyrics to "Song of Foot" can be read as a meditation on the relationship between the body and the mind, and the ways in which they can work together or against one another. The feet are a source of strength and inspiration for the singer, but they are also a reminder that sometimes it is best to let go of control and simply allow oneself to be guided by the natural rhythms of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes when I am worth it
There are times when I feel worthy.
And my mind doesn't have my best interests in mind
At times, my thoughts are not in my best interest.
Doesn't have my best interests in mind
My mind is not always focused on what is best for me.
To times like these that my feet, they speak and sing
In situations like these, my feet speak and sing, conveying the message that I am unable to express.
'cause they do so better than can my hand
My feet can express the message better than my hand can.
'cause when I play any regular sort of tune
When I play any typical kind of music,
Like a [Incomprehensible] or a waltz or a jig or aria
For example, a type of music that is a [Incomprehensible], a waltz, a jig or an aria,
Or settings on bibe or polka
Or any other kind of musical setting like bibe or polka,
My feet will have nothing to do it's a proper time
My feet will not be involved (will not move or tap) at the right time.
No, my feet will have nothing to do it's a proper time
No, my feet will not be involved at the right time.
Let them speak their heady opinions though
Let my feet express their thoughts and ideas (even if they are complex or difficult).
And you'll hear oil and butter, oil and butter
If you listen to them, you will hear rich and smooth sounds like 'oil and butter'.
Lots of oil and some butter, oil and butter
You will hear a lot of rich and smooth sounds like 'oil and butter'.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind