Songbirds
Ben Thornewill Lyrics

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Somebody's standing
Alone in a room
Wonderin' how on earth
They're gonna get through
Like songbirds in the city air
Not gonna make it

27 days alone in this room

And I've been staring at the wall
Trying to find shapes resembling you
Like songbirds in the city air
I'm not gonna make it

And I do care
But it hurts too much
And I worry that
That it's gonna get too hard
And if I'm not what you need
I promise I'll play the part

27 years to find you
But that'd be 27 wasted years if we don't see this through
Like songbirds in the city air
I'm not gonna make it

And I do care
But it hurts too much
And I worry that
Its gonna get too hard
That if I'm not what you need
I promise I'll play the part
And if i'm not what you need
I promise I'll play the part

The day is getting quiet
And the world is getting calm
So why am I shaking
I guess it means I don't belong
Like songbirds in the city air
I'm not gonna make it

And I do care
But it hurts too much
And I worry that
It's gonna get too hard
And if I'm not what you need
I promise I'll play the part

If I'm not what you need
I promise I'll play the part

Overall Meaning

Ben Thornewill's "Songbirds" tells the story of someone who feels lonely and overwhelmed, struggling to find their place in the world. The song evokes a sense of isolation and despair, with the lyrics capturing the feeling of being trapped in a room, unable to find a way out. The main message of the song is that sometimes the challenges we face can seem insurmountable, but we must keep going and never give up.

The repeated metaphor of songbirds in the city air emphasizes the feelings of being lost and out of place, as if the singer is struggling to find their voice or make their mark in a crowded urban landscape. The lyrics express a deep sense of vulnerability and fear, as the singer worries that they are not good enough or that their efforts will not be enough to succeed. Despite all of this, however, the song remains hopeful, with the promise that the singer will continue to try their best and work to play the role that is needed of them.

Line by Line Meaning

Somebody's standing
There is someone standing alone in a room.

Alone in a room
This person is alone.

Wonderin' how on earth They're gonna get through
The person is wondering how to overcome a current challenge.

Like songbirds in the city air
This person is struggling to survive in an unfamiliar environment.

Not gonna make it
The person is struggling to overcome the challenge and may not succeed.

27 days alone in this room
The person has been alone in this room for 27 days.

And I've been staring at the wall
The person has been staring at the wall.

Trying to find shapes resembling you
The person is hoping to find some comfort or familiarity.

I'm not gonna make it
The person is reiterating their belief that they may not overcome the challenge.

And I do care But it hurts too much
The person cares about the challenge, but it is causing them pain or discomfort.

And I worry that That it's gonna get too hard
The person is worried that the challenge will become too difficult.

And if I'm not what you need I promise I'll play the part
The person will do whatever they can to help or support the other person (you).

27 years to find you But that'd be 27 wasted years if we don't see this through
It took the person 27 years to find the other person (you), and they feel that it will be a waste if they don't work through the challenge together.

The day is getting quiet And the world is getting calm So why am I shaking I guess it means I don't belong
The person is feeling anxious and out of place, despite the calmness around them.

If I'm not what you need I promise I'll play the part
The person is reminding the other person (you) that they are willing to do whatever it takes to help and support them.

Writer(s): BEN THORNEWILL

Contributed by Adeline S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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