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.
Valleys of the Young
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We should commit treason
And bring into this world a son?
And leave the valleys of the young
Valleys of the young
Valleys of brunch and tedium
Just as you will become strange to them
You'll live across a great divide
And the problems that seem like luxuries
They're off getting stoned and hugging trees
All the things you'll be forsaking
Still our hearts are constantly breaking
From their cradle to our grave
Is it selfish, or is it brave?
Na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na
Do you need a reason we've
Been making all to become three
And believe in this holy valley?
Land of brunch and misery
I'm living on
The valleys of the young
Now you're going on sixty-four
Driving down sixty-five, to the hospital
To see if your adult son will survive or not
After taking those pills in the parking lot
You know, the one behind the Marriott?
This is a dream, you won't be waking
Still our hearts are constantly breaking
From their cradle to our grave
Is it selfish, is it brave?
From their cradle to our grave
Is it selfish or is it brave?
In Andrew Bird's song "Valleys of the Young," the lyrics explore the themes of parenthood, sacrifice, and the passage of time. The song begins with a question, asking if there is a reason to commit treason against the norms and expectations of society by bringing a child into the world. The "valleys of the young" represent the carefree and innocent phase of life, filled with brunches and monotony.
The lyrics suggest that once one becomes a parent, their perspective and relationships change. Friends become strange, and one becomes estranged from their former self as well. There is a divide between the problems that seemed like luxuries before, as those who are young and carefree engage in activities like getting stoned and hugging trees. The sacrifices made in parenthood, forsaking those indulgences, and putting their heartbreaks aside, are juxtaposed against the constant heartbreak parents experience. The lyrics pose a question about the nature of parenthood, whether it is selfish or brave to bring a child into this world, knowing the challenges and heartaches that await them from cradle to grave.
The second verse adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. It depicts a parent driving to the hospital to see if their adult son will survive after taking pills in a parking lot. The reference to the Marriott hotel suggests a mundane and unremarkable location for a life-altering event. This is presented as a dream, perhaps symbolizing the inner fears and anxieties of a parent whose child is in distress. Despite the dream-like quality of the situation, the pain and heartbreak remain constant.
Overall, "Valleys of the Young" delves into the conflicting emotions and sacrifices of parenthood, exploring the dichotomy between the joys and the heartaches, the selfishness and bravery in bringing new life into the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you need a reason
Is there a specific justification
We should commit treason
That we should go against the norm
And bring into this world a son?
And have a child?
And leave the valleys of the young
And depart from the carefree and leisurely lifestyle of youth
Valleys of the young
The carefree and leisurely lifestyle of youth
Valleys of brunch and tedium
A place characterized by leisurely brunches and monotony
Well, your friends will become strange to you
Your friends will appear unfamiliar
Just as you will become strange to them
Just as you will seem unfamiliar to them
You'll live across a great divide
There will be a significant separation
And the problems that seem like luxuries
And the issues that appear trivial
They're off getting stoned and hugging trees
They are busy with indulgence and environmentalism
All the things you'll be forsaking
All the things you will be giving up
Still our hearts are constantly breaking
Yet, our hearts continue to experience pain
From their cradle to our grave
From their birth to our death
Is it selfish, or is it brave?
Is it self-centered or courageous?
Na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Non-interpretive part
Na-na-na-na
Non-interpretive part
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na
Non-interpretive part
Do you need a reason we've
Is there a specific justification we have
Been making all to become three
Been putting effort to become a family of three
And believe in this holy valley?
And have faith in this sacred place?
Land of brunch and misery
Place of both leisurely meals and unhappiness
I'm living on
I exist in
The valleys of the young
The carefree and leisurely lifestyle of youth
Now you're going on sixty-four
Now you're entering your old age
Driving down sixty-five, to the hospital
Driving to the hospital on route sixty-five
To see if your adult son will survive or not
To discover if your grown-up child will live or not
After taking those pills in the parking lot
After consuming medication in the parking area
You know, the one behind the Marriott?
You know, the one situated at the back of the Marriott?
This is a dream, you won't be waking
This is a surreal experience, you won't snap out of it
Still our hearts are constantly breaking
Yet, our hearts continue to experience pain
From their cradle to our grave
From their birth to our death
Is it selfish, is it brave?
Is it self-centered or courageous?
From their cradle to our grave
From their birth to our death
Is it selfish or is it brave?
Is it self-centered or courageous?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW WEGMAN BIRD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pineapple Pioneer
" He's a good person , he wanted me before I was smart" that line in the trailer accompanied by the part of the song that plays and the image of the little girl holding Chris Evans face while he's on his knees affects me , they got it just right.
Nicholas Viespoli
This actually sounds really good. I'm glad the Gifted trailer brought me here. I'd never heard of Andrew Bird before it, but I'm interested in listening to more of his stuff :).
Katie Beavers
So glad people have loved this song and come from the trailer, enjoy.
Andrew Bird is one of the world's greatest hidden secrets. He sure is gifted.
OlDelCacho
The best moment is from 0:00 to 5:33 <3 This whole song is something i love from the depts of my heart
MonergistTea
This is a good album, even though in terms of enjoyment it's not my personal favorite. But this track is my favorite of the record, and I love the background sounds like at 0:58 and the break at 1:56. Kind of a cheesy thing to say, but almost like a tribute (because of the different way it sounds) to Birdman's whistling throughout the years.
Sam Smith
Such a good song! The album is very different but it's got some really great songs.
Also, fck the leakers, good on the team for releasing it for free streaming.
muniza yousuf
This song deserves so much more views
Saganist420
Just so you know... your new album is the thing that i look forward the most in life at the moment.
baiping ting
is a beautiful song 💕🔥
Itzel Luna
love it