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.
Black Flowers
Babybird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can't see you through the teardrops
You hold me like a sister holds a brother
Just a little sad that we feel that way
Somewhere under your skin
Someplace no one can break in
Somewhere I just can't get to
We're black flowers, you and me
We never grew up , successfully
Felt like we hung out all day in a noose
Waiting for some dream to cut us loose
Somewhere under your skin
Someplace no one can break in
Somewhere I just can't get to
Something that is just for you
Somewhere dark inside my heart
Someplace no one put a light
Somewhere you could start a fire
Have sunshine through the night
The song "Black Flowers" by Babybird is a melancholic and introspective piece that explores the depth of the human heart and the complexities of relationships. The opening lines set the emotional tone of the song with the singer expressing the heaviness of his heart and the blurred vision caused by the tears that he cannot hold back. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and sadness as he describes the relationship between himself and the other person to whom he is speaking. Though she holds him like a sister, he feels the weight of the lack of closeness that he desires.
The chorus of the song, "We're black flowers, you and me, We never grew up, successfully," is a metaphor for the brokenness of the two individuals in this relationship. The color black symbolizes the shadow sides of their personalities, the pieces of themselves that are unloved, suppressed, misunderstood, or rejected. They are like flowers, delicate and beautiful, but also vulnerable and in need of nurturing. The reference to not having grown up successfully suggests that there are deep-seated issues that they have not dealt with and are still struggling with as adults.
The second verse continues the theme of the unreachable and the unknown. The singer describes how there is a place under her skin where no one can break in. It is a place where she keeps secrets or emotions that she is not ready to reveal. Similarly, the singer talks about how there is a darkness in his heart that no one has yet illuminated. The final lines suggest that the relationship between the two people could light up the darkness, but it is not clear whether this is the kind of relationship they have or whether it is what they both desire.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes my heart stops
Occasionally my emotions become too overwhelming to handle.
And I can't see you through the teardrops
When I cry, my vision becomes too blurry to see you clearly.
You hold me like a sister holds a brother
You embrace me in a familial way, providing comfort and support.
Just a little sad that we feel that way
It is unfortunate that we must rely on each other in such a way, but it provides a small sense of comfort.
Somewhere under your skin
Deep within you, hidden from the outside world.
Someplace no one can break in
It is not accessible to anyone else, impenetrable to outside forces.
Somewhere I just can't get to
I am unable to reach that part of you, no matter how much I desire to.
Something that is just for you
It is a private part of you that only you can experience.
We're black flowers, you and me
We are like black flowers, misunderstood and often associated with negativity.
We never grew up, successfully
We never fully matured or attained societal expectations of success.
Felt like we hung out all day in a noose
We constantly feel trapped or suffocated, unable to escape our struggles.
Waiting for some dream to cut us loose
We hope for a chance or an opportunity to break free from our metaphorical restraints.
Somewhere dark inside my heart
There is a place within my heart that harbors darkness or sadness.
Someplace no one put a light
It is not illuminated or understood, and no one has attempted to make it better.
Somewhere you could start a fire
Despite its darkness, there is potential for passion or desire to spark within it.
Have sunshine through the night
This fire could provide hope or positivity, even in the darkest of times.
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@embrassemoi04
Faith Henderson does also...Thanks for posting!