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.
The Way You Are
Babybird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It wasn’t love
At first sight
Tonight
So I’ll sleep on the couch
If you turn out the light
I can’t change you
The way you are
So I was wrong
To drive you home
WE were drunk
And all alone
I said I loved you
You said OK
But that was last night
Now it’s today
Chorus x 2
We’ll buy you new skin
We’ll buy you clothes
Get you glass shoes
Break your toes
We’ll out new fists in
On bust-up wings
Squeeze you in
And let you sing
On golden fingers
Some knuckle dust
You’ll never break
You’ll never rust
You’ll always be this pretty thing
That spins around
And sings
Chorus
The lyrics to Babybird's song "The Way You Are" tell a story of a relationship that is not quite right. The singer admits that he was wrong to believe that it was love at first sight and that he is willing to sleep on the couch if his partner turns out the light. He goes on to say that he can't change her, but he loves her just the way she is. The next verse talks about a drunk night where he declared his love, only for her to dismiss it the next day. Despite this, he still loves her and accepts her for who she is.
The song touches on themes of acceptance, love, and the challenges of relationships. It explores the idea that love is not always easy, but it can be worth it if you truly accept someone for who they are. The line "We'll buy you new skin, we'll buy you clothes" represents the desire to change someone to fit a particular ideal, but ultimately, the singer chooses to accept their partner just the way they are.
Overall, "The Way You Are" is a bittersweet ode to love and acceptance, acknowledging that relationships are not perfect, but that love can exist in imperfection.
Line by Line Meaning
So I was wrong
I made a mistake
It wasn’t love
It wasn't real love
At first sight
At initial glance
Tonight
Today's ending
So I’ll sleep on the couch
I'll take the sofa
If you turn out the light
When you turn off the lamp
I can’t change you
You can't be altered
I just love the way you are
I just adore you as you are
The way you are
Exactly as you exist
So I was wrong
I was mistaken
To drive you home
To transport you to your house
WE were drunk
We were intoxicated
And all alone
Without anyone else
I said I loved you
I expressed my love for you
You said OK
You responded positively
But that was last night
That happened yesterday
Now it’s today
Now it's the present
Chorus x 2
Refrain repeated twice
We’ll buy you new skin
We'll purchase new skin for you
We’ll buy you clothes
We'll get you attire
Get you glass shoes
Acquire glass footwear for you
Break your toes
Fracture your toes
We’ll out new fists in
We'll insert new fists
On bust-up wings
On damaged wings
Squeeze you in
Fit you in
And let you sing
Allow you to vocalize
On golden fingers
With luxurious fingers
Some knuckle dust
A bit of dirt from your knuckles
You’ll never break
You will never shatter
You’ll never rust
You will never corrode
You’ll always be this pretty thing
You'll continue to be this beautiful object
That spins around
That rotates in circles
And sings
And sings
Chorus
Refrain
Contributed by Grace T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheTesemeau
I just love the way you are babybird, thank you x
@garyhall7553
Genius!
Voice getting better with age.
Just beautiful Stephen Jones
@thedontrotta
Your right Harry. Awesome. Great vocal too
@thedontrotta
What makes it more awesome is the amount of songs he writes and the fact that they are all great
@mikomihael6478
Brilliant, the most underated band ever
@cockneyginger
Such a Brilliant Live act, beautiful songs, Such a Perfect Talented Gentleman x
@harrypodany1490
One of my favorites from the original releases. Beautiful song, excellent lyrics. Nice film work here.
@harrypodany1490
I forgot to mention the exceptional vocals!
@ivan_sergeich
One of my personal longtime favourites! Great look and style. Wish I could attend one of your local shows. May this music never end
@gandreamers
Superlative performer, although his videos aren’t as interesting as ours. 😂