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.
Love Love Love
Babybird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her best friend has gone away (Her best friend has gone away)
He floated into the sky (He floated into the sky)
Where all the lonely people die (Where all the lonely people die)
Then she cried (Then she cried)
Then she bawled
Then she tried to carry on (Then she tried to carry on)
There's a blue owl in a red tree (Dead in love)
Black milk in your white glass (Dead in love)
And a cold haze from a transparent past
People hear this they think "drugs"
But it's not when you're dead in love
Dead in love
When you're dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
She's feeling lost today (Lost today)
Her best friend has gone away (Has gone away)
He floated into the sky
Where all the lonely people die
Dead in love
Then she cried
Dead in love
Then she bawled her eyes out
Then she tried to carry on (Then she tried to carry on)
But he wouldn't want that
But he wouldn't want that
But where is he now (Where is he now)
But where is he now (Where is he now)
He promised never to leave her (But he did)
He promised never to leave her (But he did)
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead in love
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
The song "Dead in Love" by Babybird paints a picture of someone who is feeling lost and grieving the loss of a dear friend. The lyrics describe how the friend "floated into the sky where all the lonely people die," which implies that they have passed away. The singer is struggling to come to terms with this loss and is caught in a cycle of crying, bawling, and trying to carry on without their friend.
The lyrics also paint surreal and vivid imagery, which seems to allude to the altered state of mind that comes with grief. For example, there is a blue owl in a red tree and a yellow bear floating on a green sea. The juxtaposition of colors and animals creates a dream-like quality to the lyrics.
The chorus of "Dead in love" is repeated multiple times throughout the song, which reinforces the sense of finality and permanence that comes with death. The singer is dead in love in the sense that their love for their friend feels like it has died along with them.
Overall, "Dead in Love" is a haunting and melancholic song that captures the essence of grief and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
She's feeling lost today
She's experiencing a sense of directionlessness and confusion today
Her best friend has gone away
Her closest confidante and support system is no longer present
He floated into the sky
He passed away and left this world
Where all the lonely people die
Where people who are deeply unhappy and unfulfilled in relationships or life eventually depart from this world
Then she cried
She expressed her emotions by shedding tears
Then she bawled
She cried inconsolably
Then she tried to carry on
She attempted to continue with her life despite the difficult circumstances
There's a blue owl in a red tree
A visual description of the surreal and seemingly inexplicable elements of the singer's experience
And a yellow bear floating on a green sea
Another visual representation of the singer's experience, depicting the unusual and bizarre nature of the situation
Black milk in your white glass
Describing the strange and unexpected elements of the situation
And a cold haze from a transparent past
Referencing the singer's memories of the past, which seem far away and out of reach
People hear this they think 'drugs'
Others may perceive the singer's experience as evidence of drug use, but that is not the case
But it's not when you're dead in love
The experience is not related to drug use, but rather the emotional pain of losing a loved one
Dead in love
The feeling of being in love and yet feeling empty and alone
When you're dead in love
Describing the experience of feeling intensely in love but feeling a sense of hopelessness and despair
But where is he now
Questioning the whereabouts of the deceased loved one
He promised never to leave her (But he did)
Referencing the heartbreak of unfulfilled promises and the pain of someone leaving despite their vow to stay
Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead in love
Emphasizing the intensity of the emotions involved in being in love but feeling hopeless and alone
Lost today
Reiterating the feeling of being directionless and in despair
Has gone away
The repetition of the phrase from earlier emphasizes the deep sense of loss and abandonment
But he wouldn't want that
Despite the intense pain and heartbreak, the singer suggests that the deceased loved one wouldn't want them to give up on life
Where is he now
The question of the deceased loved one's whereabouts is repeated, indicating a sense of longing and despair
Lyrics Š O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Stephen Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind