Andrew Bird (born July 11, 1973) is an American musician. He was born in La… Read Full Bio ↴Andrew Bird (born July 11, 1973) is an American musician. He was born in Lake Bluff, Illinois but currently resides in the Los Angeles area. Bird is a singer, a violinist and, since 2004, a guitarist. He is also an accomplished whistler.

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.

The Happy Birthday Song
Andrew Bird Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I wake up
In the morning,
Pour the coffee,
And I read the paper,
And I slowly,
And so softly,
I do the dishes
I feed the fishes

Sing a birthday
Sing it like it's going to be your last day
Like it's hallelujah,
Don't let it just pass on through ya
It's a giant and long cliche,
And that's why I want you to sing it anyway
Sing me happy birthday
'Cause hell, what's it all about?

Sing me happy birthday,
Happy birthday
It's gonna be your last day,
Gonna be your last day

Sing me happy birthday,
Happy birthday,

Like it's going to be,
Going to be your last day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Andrew Bird's "The Happy Birthday Song" convey a sense of urgency and importance about celebrating one's birthday. The song depicts the everyday routine of waking up in the morning, having coffee, reading the paper and doing chores, but it urges the listener to not let this special occasion just pass by as another day. The repetition of the phrase "gonna be your last day" emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and inspires one to make the most of every moment.

The line "sing it like it's hallelujah" reminds the listener of the joy and reverence associated with religious hymns, and encourages them to approach their birthday in the same way. The song acknowledges that celebrating one's birthday may seem like a cliché, but nonetheless urges the listener to sing it anyway, highlighting the value of appreciating milestones and taking the time to celebrate oneself. Ultimately, the song encourages us to embrace life, to sing loudly and proudly, and to make each and every day count.

Line by Line Meaning

When I wake up
Every morning, when I wake up.

In the morning,
During the early hours of the day.

Pour the coffee,
Make and pour myself a cup of coffee.

And I read the paper,
And I read the news or current events from a printed source.

And I slowly,
Slowly and calmly.

And so softly,
Quietly or gently.

I do the dishes
I wash and clean the dishes.

I feed the fishes
I give food to the fish as part of my routine.

Sing a birthday
Sing the traditional Happy Birthday song.

Sing it like it's going to be your last day
Sing it with enthusiasm, as if it's the last chance you'll get to celebrate a birthday.

Like it's hallelujah,
Sing it joyfully and blissfully.