Babybird is a British indie band, formed in 1995. The band is fronted by St… Read Full Bio ↴Babybird is a British indie band, formed in 1995. The band is fronted by Stephen Jones, who has also released records as a solo artist, using his own name and the name Baby Bird.

Jones had begun writing songs and recording home demos as part of an experimental theatre group in Sheffield. A collection of these demos (I Was Born a Man) was released in the summer of 1995, under the name Baby Bird. Following a warm critical reception for this record, he recruited a band made up of Huw Chadbourne (keyboards), Robert Gregory (drums), John Pedder (bass) and Luke Scott (guitar), in order to tour and promote his work.

During 1995, two further albums of demo recordings were released under the name Baby Bird (Bad Shave and Fatherhood) and two in 1996 (The Happiest Man Alive and Dying Happy).

By the end of the year, a decent public following had been built up, as well as quite considerable excitment within the press and music industry. Babybird were signed to Echo Records (a division of the Chrysalis Group), and the first "proper" single, a full-band recording of "Goodnight", which had appeared in demo form on Fatherhood, was eventually released in the summer of 1996, becoming a minor chart hit in the UK.

"You're Gorgeous"

The second single, You're Gorgeous, reached number 3 in the UK in October 1996, and was also one of the biggest selling singles of the year, going on to chart around the world. This remains the song for which Stephen Jones and Babybird are best known.

However, it presented a much more commercial face to the public in comparison to Jones' previous work. The early demo albums won Jones great credibility with those who heard them, but had not reached a wide audience (each one being a one-off pressing). Arguably, the commercial sound and success of "You're Gorgeous", which received massive exposure by comparison, made it hard for many to take Jones seriously as an indie artist. Essentially, what he was best at was no longer what he was best known for.

After "You're Gorgeous"
The album Ugly Beautiful was released to a warm reception, but was not the unmitigated critical triumph that some had anticipated from Babybird's first studio-recorded album. The album produced two more hit singles, Candy Girl and Cornershop.

Babybird returned, minus keyboardist Huw Chadbourne, in 1998 with There's Something Going On, preceded by a single, Bad Old Man. The album was a modest success and was followed by further minor hits, If You'll Be Mine and Back Together.

In 2000, a line-up of Babybird comprising Stephen Jones, Luke Scott and Matt Hay created a third album. Bugged, which was well-received critically (it might be suggested that it is an album of the right quality, but four years later than expected). However, sales were poor and the two singles from it, The F-Word (later the theme tune to a UK TV cookery show of the same name) and Out of Sight barely dented the charts. Babybird were dropped by their record label soon after. A third single from the album Fireflies was released on Animal Noise records, but sold few copies. The band subsequently split.

Stephen Jones went on to write fiction, release solo work and score a film, Blessed, in 2004.

In October 2005, a posting on the official Babybird website announced that the band had reformed as a three-piece featuring Stephen, Luke Scott and Robert Gregory, and would be releasing new material in 2006.

The last CD, called "Between My Ears There's Nothing But Music", was released in autumn 2006 and didn't seem to have encountered a big success.

Stephen Jones has also released Solo material, not to be confused with the american artist of the same name.

In September 2009, Stephen Jones launched an online Babybird community, on which he regularly posts.

A brief tour of the UK was undertaken in November 2009 with the lineup of Stephen Jones, Luke Scott and Robert Gregory. This tour was to promote the new album, Ex-Maniac, due for release in February 2010. Johnny Depp, a long time fan, appears on the album Ex-Maniac, as guitarist in the first single off the album, Unloveable.

70
Babybird Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Waking up with you
Lying here beside me
What a wonderful morning
What a wonderful feeling

70 years together
Go on for ever and ever
70 years today

Comes as no surprise

WHAT A WONDERFUL MORNING
WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING
WHAT A WONDERFUL MORNING
WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING

Though my eyesight's going
And my heart is slowing
Now my bones are showing
It's still a wonderful morning

Though her skin is looser
And the world's abused her
She's the happy ever after
That goes on forever

ON THIS WONDERFUL MORNING
WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING
ON THIS WONDERFUL MORNING
WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELINF

WHAT A WONDERFUL MORNING
LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING

GOES ON FOR EVER AND EVER
WHAT A WONDERFUL MORNING

Overall Meaning

The song "70" by Babybird is a touching tribute to a couple who have been together for 70 years. The song begins with the singer waking up next to their partner and feeling overwhelmed with joy at the thought of spending another day with them. The chorus repeats the sentiment of "what a wonderful morning, what a wonderful feeling" which conveys the singer's deep love and happiness.

As the song progresses, the lyrics make it clear that despite the couple's advanced age and physical decline, they are still deeply devoted to each other. The singer acknowledges that their eyesight is failing and their heart is slowing, but it doesn't detract from the beauty and wonder of the morning they are sharing with their partner. The following verse is even more poignant, as the singer describes their partner's aged and worn appearance, but also emphasizes that they are still the "happy ever after" that will continue on forever.

Overall, "70" is a celebration of long-lasting love that endures through the ups and downs of life. Even in the face of physical decline and the passing of time, the joy and wonder of sharing life with someone you love remains.

Line by Line Meaning

Waking up with you
Starting my day with you beside me

Lying here beside me
We are together and I feel your warmth next to me

What a wonderful morning
Feeling grateful for another day with you

What a wonderful feeling
Being in your presence brings me joy

70 years together
We have been together for a lifetime

Go on for ever and ever
Our love will never end

70 years today
Celebrating our long-lasting love on this special day

Comes as no surprise
We knew we would make it this far

Though my eyesight's going
Even though my vision is fading

And my heart is slowing
And my heart is becoming weaker

Now my bones are showing
My physical body is aging