She appeared in the September edition of Now! Magazine. She also appeared on the LOLA 2007 line-up, using her lush instrumental back-ups to accompany her reedy voice. Her first album has been hailed in the Exclaim! monthly newspaper and on several online publications.
Basia was nominated in 2010 for a Polaris Music Prize and nominated in 2011 for a Juno in the Best New Artist category.
Birds of Paradise
Basia Bulat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I'll lie a little longer
Wait for the crowds to go
Maybe I'll die in this unholy mass
And I'll be free
Yes that's what they say that I would be
When we came to watch the world be over
On this boat that made
I can hardly see the water
What's happened to me
I was down on my knees
I was praying to leave
But I never know when I've gone too far
This disaster in me
What a beautiful dream
That told me I'd be cleaner
Told me I'd be closer to God
Oh, the birds of paradise
Came to me yesterday
Laughed when they told me my fate
We'd be cold, we'd be tired, but we could breathe
And one day I'm gonna leave this place
What's happened to me
I was down on my knees
I was praying to leave
But I never know when I've gone too far
This disaster in me
What a beautiful dream
That told me I'd be cleaner
Told me I'd be closer to God
Basia Bulat’s “Birds of Paradise” can be interpreted in several ways, but a common one is that the song is about suicide. The lyrics are suggestive of depression and hopelessness. The line “Maybe I’ll die in this unholy mass, and I’ll be free” implies the singer’s death would be a relief from the negativity they’re experiencing. They are sleeping without memory because they’re trying to escape their emotional pain. The singer is waiting for the crowd to go so they can be alone, or possibly even commit suicide.
The chorus of the song talks about the singer’s struggle with their faith. “What a beautiful dream that told me I’d be cleaner, told me I’d be closer to God” suggests that the singer is questioning their beliefs and searching for solace. They may have turned to religion to find a way out of their mental turmoil but have yet to experience the peace and comfort they seek.
When the birds of paradise come to the singer, they offer a glimmer of hope. The birds laugh when they tell the singer their fate. The irony of their laughter is that it is the opposite of what one would expect from birds of paradise, which are known for their beauty and grace. The birds suggest that things will be difficult but bearable. They tell the singer, “We’d be cold, we’d be tired, but we could breathe,” indicating that life is worth living even if it’s not perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been sleeping without memory
I've been living life on autopilot, not really engaging or remembering much.
I think I'll lie a little longer
I'm in no rush to get up and start living my life.
Wait for the crowds to go
I prefer to be alone when I wake up, not right in the middle of a crowd.
Maybe I'll die in this unholy mass
I feel like I'm a small part of something bigger that could be disastrous.
And I'll be free
Death would be a release from the monotony of life.
Yes that's what they say that I would be
People often speak of death as a way to be free from their struggles.
When we came to watch the world be over
It feels like we're all just waiting for the end of the world, instead of living our lives fully.
But there's too many fools
There are too many people who are misguided and not living their best lives.
On this boat that made
We're all stuck in this world together and there's no escaping it.
I can hardly see the water
Sometimes it feels like we're too deep into our own problems to see the bigger picture.
What's happened to me
I'm not sure what's driving my life anymore.
I was down on my knees
I was admitting defeat and asking for help.
I was praying to leave
I was hoping for a way out of my current struggles.
But I never know when I've gone too far
I struggle with knowing when I've pushed myself too hard or gone too deep down a certain path.
This disaster in me
I feel like there's something inside of me that's holding me back or causing me trouble.
What a beautiful dream
I sometimes have dreams where I'm free from all my struggles and everything is beautiful.
That told me I'd be cleaner
These dreams make me feel like I'm a better, happier version of myself.
Told me I'd be closer to God
In these dreams, I feel like I'm closer to a higher power or a greater purpose.
Oh, the birds of paradise
I've been thinking a lot about how beautiful and free birds must feel.
Came to me yesterday
These thoughts came to me recently.
Laughed when they told me my fate
The idea of fate or destiny seems funny to me because I feel like I have control over my own life.
We'd be cold, we'd be tired, but we could breathe
The birds of paradise seemed to be saying that even though life is tough, there are still moments of freedom and beauty to be found.
And one day I'm gonna leave this place
Someday, I'll be able to leave my problems behind and move onto something better.
Contributed by Camilla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.