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.
Three White Horses
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All in a line
There'll be three white horses
In a line
Three white horses when you go that way
You will need somebody when you come to die
Don't dismiss it like it's easy
About coming to say goodbye?
You're gonna miss her in the evening
You know all you need is
Somebody when you come to die
There'll be three white horses
All in a line
There'll be three white horses
In a line
Three white horses when you go that way
You will need somebody when you come to die
It's not desperation that we're breeding
It's just a need we're feeding
Before we say goodbye
You're gonna miss me in the evening
You know all you need is
Somebody when you come to die
all you need is
Somebody when you come to die
The song "Three White Horses" by Andrew Bird touches on the grief and loss of a loved one. The repetition of the phrase "three white horses" makes it seem like a mantra that offers some kind of comfort for the singer as they contemplate their own mortality. The line "you will need somebody when you come to die" emphasizes the importance of companionship and support in life and in death.
The stanza "Don't dismiss it like it's easy / Tell me what's so easy / About coming to say goodbye?" speaks to the difficulty of saying goodbye to a loved one. It's not an easy task and shouldn't be treated as such. The line "It's not desperation that we're breeding / It's just a need we're feeding / Before we say goodbye" shows the singer's willingness to seek out comfort and companionship before their impending death. They understand the importance of being surrounded by someone who cares in their final moments.
The repetition of "You're gonna miss her in the evening / You know all you need is / Somebody when you come to die" reinforces the idea that love and companionship are necessary in life and also in death. It's a reminder to cherish those we care about while we still can.
Overall, "Three White Horses" is a poignant and reflective song that highlights the importance of human connections in life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
There'll be three white horses
There will be a procession of three white horses.
All in a line
The horses will be arranged in a straight line.
There'll be three white horses
The procession will consist of three white horses.
In a line
The horses will be arranged in a straight line.
Three white horses when you go that way
If you go in that direction, you will see a procession of three white horses.
You will need somebody when you come to die
When you die, you will need someone to be with you.
Don't dismiss it like it's easy
Don't underestimate the difficulty of this situation.
Tell me what's so easy
Explain to me what is so simple.
About coming to say goodbye?
About the act of saying goodbye.
You're gonna miss her in the evening
You will feel her absence in the evening.
You know all you need is
You are aware that all you require is.
Somebody when you come to die
A person to be with you when you pass away.
It's not desperation that we're breeding
We are not fostering desperation.
It's just a need we're feeding
We are simply fulfilling a need.
Before we say goodbye
Before we bid farewell.
You're gonna miss me in the evening
You will feel my absence in the evening.
All you need is
All that is required is.
Somebody when you come to die
A person to be with you when you pass away.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ewwdavid728
Sorry for having gone off the grid. :) A month after posting this, I got a job I like. Then three months later, I met someone I like. Three months after that, two fur baby boys entered my life (Pepper and Pumpkin Spice.)
As for mental health, it's always been there since childhood. I have bi-polar ii, anxiety and ADHD. I managed to find meds good enough to survive, most of the time at least though, a month after that post.
Actually, as I'm writing this post, my therapist has been on a leave for a month, and I've been keeping my head above the water as much as I can. Different from the time I posted that.
Money is super tight, being a graduate student, but definitely not as horrible as it was.
I'm in tears as I'm posting this. I did see your comments as they were coming, but I've been fighting one demon at a time. Felt like Super Mario for real, or perhaps Tetris. I can't thank you enough for the kindness to reach out. My eyes are misty.
@caffeinatednation8885
Lyrics
There'll be three white horses
All in a line
There'll be three white horses
In a line
Three white horses when you go that way
You will need somebody when you come to die
Don't dismiss it like it's easy
Tell me what's so easy
About coming to say goodbye?
You're gonna miss her in the evening
You know all you need is
Somebody when you come to die
There'll be three white horses
All in a line
There'll be three white horses
In a line
Three white horses when you go that way
You will need somebody when you come to die
It's not desperation that we're breeding
It's just a need we're feeding
Before we say goodbye
You're gonna miss me in the evening
You know all you need is
Somebody when you come to die
all you need is
Somebody when you come to die
@lsdh7901
There'll be three white horses, all in a line
There'll be three white horses in a line
Three white horses, when you go that way
You will need somebody when you come to die
Don't dismiss it like it's easy
Tell me what's so easy
'Bout coming to say goodbye
You're gonna miss her in the evening
You know I won't be needing
Somebody when you come to die
There'll be three white horses in a line
There'll be three white horses in a line
There'll be three white horses when you go that way
You will need somebody when you come to die
It's not desperation that we're breeding
It's just a need we're feeding
Before we say goodbye
You're gonna miss me in the evenings
You know I won't be needing
Somebody when you come to die
Yeah, I won't be needing
Somebody when you come to die
@rafaeladelmondes7729
Não consigo superar essa música mesmo depois de anos ouvindo ela
@BrunoOliveira-np5zx
Rafaela Delmonds não dá pra parar de ouvir...arrepia ❤
@kloiebraelynn8875
This popped up on my SoundCloud back when I was like 14 and I fell in love with it. I used to constantly be exploring the woods near my house. This became one of my favorite songs to listen to while doing that. I’m 18 now and still come back to it to remind me of that summer.
@amrawazhere
Sounds like we could be friend soulmates haha i did the same
@mynames-sara
Saaaame
@fishguy9704
Same bro
@AV-nf5hx
Holy shit I thought I was the only one. I used to play it daily, probably found it in like 2014
@geonathanfamous
Everything Andrew Bird does is wonderful.
@carlosdiazmontoya
Came from “This is us”, stayed for the absolutely emotional song. Thanks for composing so so deep.
@salvatorevinco
Przepiękny utwór. Dzięki Panie Bird.