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 New Saint Jude
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You self-empowered beginners
And all your lucky ladies
To whom you write your letters
I keep moving through my days
As if I had never met her
But ever since I, I gave up hope
Yeah, I'm feelin' so much better
But ever since I gave up hope
I've been feelin' so much better
So here's a mighty revelation
That's sure to cure what ails ya
That everyone's just a disappointment
And everyone's a failure
And this we shall celebrate
In our finest regalia
Like a choir of shining angels
A congregation of Vahalia
I'm feelin' so much better
Ever since I thought I gave up hope
I've been feeling so much better
You hear that bell now
You hear it ringing
You hear it ringing
The bells of St. Jude
So fill your lungs now
'Cause we'll be singin'
We'll be singin'
We love you, St. Jude
We'll be singin'
We love you, St. Jude
Feelin' so much better
Feelin' so much better
Feelin' so much better
Feelin' so much better
In Andrew Bird's song "The New Saint Jude," the lyrics depict a sense of empowerment and personal growth that comes from giving up hope and letting go of expectations. The song begins by addressing "stand-up men" and their "lucky ladies," implying that these individuals are starting out on a journey of self-discovery and self-empowerment. The singer claims to be moving through life as if they had never met someone, suggesting that they have learned to live independently and let go of any past attachments.
The chorus introduces a revelation that is meant to offer relief and healing: the recognition that everyone is prone to disappointment and failure. This realization is portrayed as a cause for celebration, akin to a congregation of angels coming together in harmonious praise. It signifies a collective acknowledgement of imperfection and a collective embrace of the human condition.
The song concludes with the repeated line, "Feelin' so much better." This repetition emphasizes the singer's newfound sense of contentment and liberation after letting go of hope. The mention of the bells of St. Jude, a reference to the patron saint of lost causes, serves as a metaphorical representation of the acceptance of life's disappointments. The song encourages the listener to embrace this acceptance, fill their lungs with newfound freedom, and find solace in the act of singing together in devotion to St. Jude.
Overall, "The New Saint Jude" by Andrew Bird explores the personal growth that can come from relinquishing hope and embracing the imperfect nature of humanity. It highlights the transformative power of letting go and finding solace in shared experiences and collective acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, all you stand-up men
Hey, all you confident and courageous men
You self-empowered beginners
You who have just started exploring your own potential and taking control of your lives
And all your lucky ladies
And all the fortunate women in your lives
To whom you write your letters
To whom you send heartfelt messages
I keep moving through my days
I continue living my life
As if I had never met her
As if I had never encountered her
But ever since I, I gave up hope
Yet, since the moment I abandoned hope
I've been feeling so much better
I have been experiencing significant improvement in my well-being
Yeah, I'm feelin' so much better
Yes, I am truly feeling improved
But ever since I gave up hope
However, ever since I let go of hope
I've been feelin' so much better
I have been feeling considerably better
So here's a mighty revelation
So here is a profound realization
That's sure to cure what ails ya
That will undoubtedly heal your troubles
That everyone's just a disappointment
That everyone ultimately lets you down
And everyone's a failure
And everyone is bound to fail in some way
And this we shall celebrate
And this we will commemorate
In our finest regalia
In our most splendid attire
Like a choir of shining angels
Similar to a radiant choir of heavenly beings
A congregation of Vahalia
A gathering of esteemed individuals or souls
You hear that bell now
Do you hear the sound of the bell?
You hear it ringing
Can you perceive its resonating tone?
The bells of St. Jude
The bells belonging to St. Jude
So fill your lungs now
So take a deep breath now
'Cause we'll be singin'
Because we will be singing
We'll be singin'
We will be joyfully expressing
We love you, St. Jude
We hold affection for you, St. Jude
Feelin' so much better
Experiencing significant improvement in well-being
Feelin' so much better
Truly feeling improved
Feelin' so much better
Feeling considerably better
Feelin' so much better
Experiencing significant improvement in well-being
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW WEGMAN BIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Spencer Grant
HOW IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT HOW WELL-SHOT THIS IS? Seriously, who was the DoP on this?
90.9 The Bridge
The very talented Cole Blaise! https://www.flatlandkc.org/reporters/cole-blaise-2/
Hoda Hefzy
I love it !!! :) ever sense I gave up hope , I've been Feeeling so much better :) :)
Colin
Wonderful performance, I like a lot of Andrew and I’m not in love with a lot of his stuff, but I definitely think he’s a special talent, he composes a lot of amazing instrumentation and layering.
Leon Odoherty
Three people have no soul! How you can dislike this song and the performances is beyond me! 😳
Nat Serrano
This version sounds like a hispanic song ❤️
Patricia Cárdenas
How is this even musically possible... I... Wow
90.9 The Bridge
SO BEAUTIFUL.
camille franco
Dear friend. Thanks for your time for the imperial x imperfect x us. Thanks...
Manuela Leal
Great!