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.
Shoutabout
Babybird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can't breathe for the people
My heart stops and my head hurts
And I can't see my way
I take pills but they don't help
They just kill time til home time
Half alive nine to five
Til I come home to you
YOU'RE
THAT SOMETHING ... THAT SOMEONE ... TO SING ABOUT
THAT SOMEONE ... THAT SOMETHING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
THAT SOMEWHERE ... THAT SOMEPLACE ... TO SMILE ABOUT
THAT SOMETHING ... THAT ONE THING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ...
SHUSH SHUSH SHOUTABOUT
In the evening with the world gone
And there's no one around
A chair swings in the back yard
And I can't hear sound
Yeah we do drink and it does help
It just kills time til work time
Half awake half past eight
Waiting here for you
IT'S
THAT SOMETHING ... THAT ONE THING ... TO SING ABOUT
THAT SOMEONE ... THAT SOMETHING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
THAT SOMEWHERE ... THAY SOMEPLACE ... TO SMILE ABOUT
IT'S THAT SOMETHING ... THAT ONE THING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ...
SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT
SHUSH SHUSH SHOUTABOUT
The lyrics to Babybird's song "Shoutabout" depict the struggles of living a monotonous life, where the artist can barely make it through the day without feeling oppressed by the people around him. He tries to cope with this through pills, but they don't help, and so he kills time until he can go home to that "something" - that person who makes life worth living. They are the something to sing about, shout about, and smile about. They are the one thing to shout about.
The second verse illustrates a more peaceful setting, where there is no one around to see the empty chair swinging in the backyard. They drink to make time pass quickly until it's time to go back to work. However, through all of the monotony, the "something" remains constant, making the oppressive people and routine worthwhile. The song embodies the concept of finding meaning in life, even in the most mundane of circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
In the morning when the world's up
As the day begins and the world awakens
And I can't breathe for the people
Feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by the presence of others
My heart stops and my head hurts
Experiencing physical and emotional pain and distress
And I can't see my way
Feeling lost and unable to find direction or clarity
I take pills but they don't help
Attempting to find relief through medication, but finding it ineffective
They just kill time til home time
The medication only numbs the pain temporarily until the end of the work day
Half alive nine to five
Til I come home to you
YOU'RE
THAT SOMETHING ... THAT SOMEONE ... TO SING ABOUT
THAT SOMEONE ... THAT SOMETHING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
THAT SOMEWHERE ... THAT SOMEPLACE ... TO SMILE ABOUT
THAT SOMETHING ... THAT ONE THING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ...
SHUSH SHUSH SHOUTABOUT
Existing in a half-alive state while at work until returning home to the person who brings joy and excitement to their life. This person is the subject of their songs and the reason to shout and celebrate. They provide a happy place and a reason to be loud and enthusiastic.
In the evening with the world gone
When the day is over and the world has settled down
And there's no one around
Being alone and isolated
A chair swings in the back yard
Observing a chair moving without anyone sitting in it
And I can't hear sound
Feeling disconnected from the world and unable to fully engage with it
Yeah we do drink and it does help
To find temporary relief from feelings of sadness and loneliness by consuming alcohol
It just kills time til work time
Alcohol only numbs the pain temporarily until the start of the work day
Half awake half past eight
Waiting here for you
Existing in a drowsy state while waiting for the person who brings meaning and purpose to their life
IT'S
THAT SOMETHING ... THAT ONE THING ... TO SING ABOUT
THAT SOMEONE ... THAT SOMETHING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
THAT SOMEWHERE ... THAY SOMEPLACE ... TO SMILE ABOUT
IT'S THAT SOMETHING ... THAT ONE THING ... TO SHOUTABOUT
SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT ...
SHOUTABOUT ... SHOUTABOUT
SHUSH SHUSH SHOUTABOUT
This person is the constant source of inspiration for songs to be sung and reasons to shout and celebrate. They bring happiness and a reason to smile. The joy they bring is that one thing to shout and be excited about, and will continue to be celebrated and shouted about.
Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.