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.
When That Helicopter Comes
Andrew Bird Lyrics
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And the hills are gonna dance
There'll be power in the blood
When the helicopters come
Sky will swim in lightning fire
And the trees will shake and scream
There'll be power in the blood
When the helicopters come
There'll be power in the blood
When the helicopters come
Rocks are gonna roll uphill
And the sun will dive in the sea
There'll be power in the blood
When the helicopters come
The dead are gonna wake and sing
And roll their bones in the grass
There'll be power in the blood
When the helicopters come
When the helicopters come
There'll be power in the blood
When the helicopters come
Andrew Bird's song "When That Helicopter Comes" is a powerful and prophetic piece of music that speaks to the chaotic and transformative nature of our modern world. Throughout the song, Bird speaks of impending change, of a time when the very fabric of our reality will be upended and everything we know will be turned on its head. He uses vivid and often surreal imagery to convey this sense of awe and uncertainty, painting a picture of a world turned upside down where even the laws of physics seem to bend at the whim of some unseen force.
The opening lines of the song speak of rain falling like champagne and hills dancing, which is a beautiful and joyful image. However, the mention of power in the blood and helicopters coming suggests that something more ominous is at play. The chorus repeats the refrain that power will be found in the blood when the helicopters come, which could be interpreted in many ways. Perhaps it refers to a time of war or revolution, where bloodshed will be necessary to bring about change. Or perhaps it refers to a spiritual awakening, where humans will come to understand the true power of their own blood and what it represents.
The subsequent verses describe more surreal and mystical events, such as rocks rolling uphill, the sun diving into the sea, and the dead awakening and singing. These images suggest a world where anything is possible, where even natural laws can be broken and the dead can return to life. The song ends on a haunting note, with the chorus suggesting that these events will come to pass whether we are ready for them or not.
Overall, "When That Helicopter Comes" is a complex and thought-provoking song that invites listeners to meditate on the nature of change and transformation. It is a powerful reminder that the world is constantly in motion, and that we must be prepared to adapt and evolve if we hope to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
It's gonna rain champagne
There will be an abundance of wealth and luxury.
And the hills are gonna dance
The natural world will come alive with energy and ecstasy.
There'll be power in the blood
There will be strength and vitality that propels change.
When the helicopters come
A metaphorical promise of transformation or salvation arriving.
Sky will swim in lightning fire
The heavens will ignite with fierce, brilliant energy.
And the trees will shake and scream
The environment will be shaken up and reverberate with newfound life.
Rocks are gonna roll uphill
Physical laws of the world will be broken or overturned.
And the sun will dive in the sea
The impossible will become possible and the world will be turned upside down.
The dead are gonna wake and sing
Even those who have long passed away will come back to life and join in the celebration.
And roll their bones in the grass
The formerly lifeless will once again feel the thrill of movement and vitality.
When the helicopters come
A continuing pledge that something exciting, transformative, or liberating will arrive.
There'll be power in the blood
The promise of strength, vitality, or passion that arrives with transformation or upheaval.
When the helicopters come
The continuing hint of impending arrival of something exciting or groundbreaking.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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