Fanning was taught the piano by his mother at an early age. At the age of 12, while attending St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Fanning began writing music, and upon graduating from St. Joseph's, moved on to the University of Queensland, where he studied journalism for a short time. He would go on to drop out to pursue a music career after meeting Ian Haug in an economics class. Fanning joined Haug, John Collins, and Steven Bishop, who had recently formed Powderfinger, and took the role of lead singer. Subsequently, Bishop left and guitarist Darren Middleton joined.
From 1994 to 2004 Powderfinger released five albums, a double CD live album, and a Best Of, after which they decided to take a break. Fanning's solo album Tea & Sympathy was released in October 2005 and debuted at #1 on the Australian ARIA Albums chart. Singles released from this album were Wish You Well, Songbird and Watch Over Me.
Fanning won three ARIA awards in 2006, Best Male Artist, Album of the Year for Tea and Sympathy, and Best Music Video for Wish You Well. In the same year Wish You Well was voted in at #1 on Australian youth radio station Triple J's 2005 Hottest 100 poll.
Fanning also contributed songs to the 2003 film Ned Kelly including Shelter For My Soul and a cover of the traditional song Moreton Bay.
Powderfinger released their 6th studio album, Dream Days At The Hotel Existence in June 2007 and toured with Silverchair that autumn.
After the disbanding of Powderfinger in 2010, Fanning moved to Spain with his family where he began writing and recording demos for his next solo album. In January 2013 Fanning announced on his website blog that he had been recording the follow up to 2005's "Tea and Sympathy" in Los Angeles. In March 2013 he announced via his blog that recording had been completed and he had returned back to Australia. On 22nd April 2013 the first single Battleships was released. Fanning's second album, Departures, was released on 7th June 2013. Since the album release, two more singles have been released: Departures (Blue Toowong Skies) and Tell Me How It Ends.
Songbird
Bernard Fanning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I'd know how to please you
It's sad but true
So I'll just listen in down the line
While you're busy mixing grape with grain
To sedate your pain
Songbird, you got tales to tell
The sweeping gesture creates a fuss
It's only useful when receiving praise
Relieving no-ones pain
If you'd let somebody love you just enough
You'd have everything you'd need to break
Free from all your pain
Songbird, you got tales to tell
How many times can you describe your living hell?
If you'd let somebody love you just enough
Bernard Fanning's song "Songbird" is a heartfelt plea for a loved one to shake off the chains of addiction and let someone in. The opening lines of "I wish I knew wish button to push / Then I'd know how to please you" reflect the desperation felt by those who love someone struggling with addiction. The song then chronicles the struggles of the addict, with lines like "While you're busy mixing grape with grain / To sedate your pain" painting a vivid picture of the self-destructive behavior that addiction can lead to.
The chorus, with its repetition of "Songbird, you got tales to tell / How many times can you describe your living hell?" is a powerful affirmation of the immense suffering that addiction can cause. The final plea "If you'd let somebody love you just enough / You'd have everything you'd need to break / Free from all your pain" is a message of hope, suggesting that love could be the key to breaking free from addiction.
Overall, "Songbird" is a powerful and poignant lament about the struggles of addiction, and a reminder of the importance of love and support in overcoming those struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I knew wish button to push
I wish I knew the exact thing to say or do to make you happy.
Then I'd know how to please you
If I knew the right thing to say or do, I could make you happy.
It's sad but true
Unfortunately, it's a fact.
So I'll just listen in down the line
I'll quietly wait and listen to you from a distance.
While you're busy mixing grape with grain
While you're busy drinking alcohol to numb your pain.
To sedate your pain
To ease your emotional pain temporarily.
Songbird, you got tales to tell
You sing so beautifully, you have stories to share.
How many times can you describe your living hell?
How many times will you keep telling your sad story?
The sweeping gesture creates a fuss
Grand gestures only get attention and praise, but do not solve problems.
It's only useful when receiving praise
It's only appreciated when people acknowledge it.
Relieving no-ones pain
It doesn't actually fix anyone's problems.
If you'd let somebody love you just enough
If you allowed someone to love and care for you a little bit.
You'd have everything you'd need to break
You'd have the support to overcome your struggles.
Free from all your pain
Released from your emotional suffering.
But you keep on struggling in your own way
You keep fighting your battles all alone.
Mixing grape with grain each and every day.
You keep drinking away your troubles every day.
Songbird, you sing your song so well
Your singing is so beautiful and captivating.
But how long can you keep telling your tale?
How much longer can you keep telling your sad story?
It's time to let your guard down,
It's time to be vulnerable and open.
And trust in someone new.
And trust someone to help you.
Someone who can see your pain,
Someone who can understand your suffering.
And help you make it through.
And support you until you come out the other side.
Songbird, your song is beautiful,
Your singing is so beautiful and touching.
But it's time to start a new chapter, feel wonderful.
It's time for you to move forward and start feeling happy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH FANNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevenpappas3753
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@siknislidewayz
I wish I knew which button to push...oh wait I do, it's the replay button!
@serendipityruleslife3615
That's good!! 😀
@zacewing4996
This is the winning comment hehe 😁
@anyma615
Thanks for your support and comment, your support have brought me this far. Keep supporting, much love too from Bernard fanning😊😊
@iamhis4749
This has allway's been one of my favourite, most loved albums of all time.
When it was released i knew I had to buy it and i did and I love all of the song's.
This is undoubtedly one of the best Australian albums ever released and all credit to Bernard because he is a great artist and so underrated!
This is great, iconic, Australian music! 🇦🇺❤️🇦🇺
@serendipityruleslife3615
Same!!!
@brettsmith8614
Describes my life
@ianmclau
This is a timeless classic from one of Australia's greatest ever artists.
@menulipeiris6152
I did not know Bernerd Fanning was a Australian artist
@whiteox8903
He's Australian!? never knew that! we'll gladly take him!