After she won the Under 18s category of the UK talent contest Open Mic UK at the age of 12, Bogaerde was soon offered a publishing contract by Good Soldier Songs Ltd, run by Christian Tattersfield, chairman of Warner Music UK. In 2011, at the age of 14, she released a haunting cover version of the Bon Iver "Skinny Love", which reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart. The track was later featured in an episode of The Vampire Diaries.
Her self-titled debut album, "Birdy", was released on 4th November, 2011 and featured "Skinny Love" , "1901" and "People Help The People", other notable tracks from the album include James Taylor's" Fire and Rain" and “Terrible Love” The album reached #1 in Australia, Belgium and The Netherlands, it also peaked at #13 in the UK.
In 2011, "Skinny Love" sold 259,000 copies in the UK becoming the third biggest selling rock single of that year. As of August 2016, the song had sold almost 800,000 copies in the UK.
In 2012, Birdy released an 8 track EP " Live in London “ which featured several tracks from her debut album plus a version of the Ed Sheeran song "The A Team “and "Just a Game from “The Hunger Games”
In July 2013 Birdy announced via YouTube, that her 2nd album would be released later in the year. She also previewed two new songs "Wings "and "No Angel" which would both be featured on her second studio album "Fire Within"
Her second studio album, "Fire Within" was released 23rd September, 2013. It featured 11 original songs, either written or co written by Birdy including Strange Birds, co-written with Sia.
The first single from the album was “Wings” released as a digital download then officially released in the UK on 8th September 2013. The song reached #8 on the UK charts, becoming Birdy’s first UK top 10. It was also featured in an episode of The Vampire Diaries. Subsequent singles were “No Angel”, Light Me Up” and “Words as Weapons”
In 2014, Birdy submitted three songs to the soundtrack of the film “The Fault In Our Stars” which stars “Shailene Woodley” and “Ansel Elgort”. “Not About Angels” was the second released single from the soundtrack album. Other Birdy contributions were “ Tee Shirt" and “ Best Shot"
On 25th March 2016, Birdy's third album "Beautiful Lies" was released, it featured the singles, "Keeping Your Head Up" ,"Wild Horses" and "Words" Once again her songwriting abilities were evident as she wrote or co wrote all of the 14 tracks.
Also in 2016 she was featured on the "Sigma" single " Find Me which was only a minor success in the UK.
Her song Ghost In The Wind" also appeared on the soundtrack of the film The Edge Of Seventeen
After an extensive tour of USA and Asia, she took a break from music, only to return with a new single called “ Open Your Heart" in 2020. The song was featured on the 4 track EP called “Piano Sketches”
Birdy’s fourth studio album “Young Heart” was then released on 30th April 2021, the first single “ Surrender” was issued earlier in 2021, a day after she had announced that her new album was coming. Birdy described the album as a heartbreak album heavily inspired by Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”
2023 saw the release of Birdy's fifth studio album “Portraits” It was released on 18th August 2023. “Raincatchers” was issued as the first single, which had been released earlier in 2023. Subsequent singles from the album have since followed, “Heartbreaker”, “Your Arms” and “Paradise Calling”
Birdy's music is described as folk, pop, indie folk. She cites her early music influences as Classical Music and Pop music that her parents would play. along with her own influences, which are so evident in her music(Bon Iver, George Michael and Keane)
Album Discography:
Birdy (2011)
Fire Within (2013)
Beautiful Lies (2016)
Young Heart (2021)
Portraits (2023)
Sites: Discogs, Wikipedia and YouTube.
Shelter
Birdy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under cover, hide away
Can you hear when I say
I have never felt this way
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Could I be, was I there
It felt so crystal in the air
I still want to drown whenever you leave
Please teach me gently how to breathe
And I'll cross oceans like never before
So you can feel the way I feel it too
And I'll send images back at you
So you can see the way I feel it too
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
The lyrics to Birdy's song "Shelter" discusses finding a safe haven in someone or something. The singer finds comfort in staying hidden and protected from the world. They are afraid of making mistakes and causing harm, asking if they can fix things if they have said something wrong. The line "Can you hear when I say I have never felt this way" implies that they feel vulnerable and exposed, but they trust the person they are speaking to enough to let them in.
The second stanza is filled with uncertainty and doubt, questioning whether they were truly present and if their memories are accurate. The image of drowning when the person they trust leaves is a metaphor for how dependent they are on that person. They want to learn how to breathe independently and homogenously, and they want to become the person the person they trust wants them to be.
In the chorus, the singer vows to do whatever it takes to get the person they care about to understand how they feel. They talk about crossing oceans and sending images because words don't do justice. Finally, they ask once again if they can make up for any wrongdoings with the lights turned on, symbolizing a willingness to be transparent and truthful.
Overall, the song is about finding safety and comfort with someone you trust, as well as wanting to be understood and accepted by that person.
Line by Line Meaning
I find shelter in this way
I feel safe and protected by hiding away in this particular manner
Under cover, hide away
I hide myself beneath something and stay out of sight
Can you hear when I say
Are you listening carefully to my words?
I have never felt this way
I have never experienced this particular feeling
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Perhaps I said something incorrect or hurtful
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Can I correct my mistake or wrongdoing by confronting it directly?
Could I be, was I there
Did I exist in that moment, or is this merely a memory?
It felt so crystal in the air
The atmosphere was clear and vivid in my recollection
I still want to drown whenever you leave
I feel overwhelmed with emotion whenever you depart
Please teach me gently how to breathe
Show me how to calm down and regain control of my emotions
And I'll cross oceans like never before
I'll go to great lengths to make you understand
So you can feel the way I feel it too
I want you to experience the same emotions as me
And I'll send images back at you
I'll give you a glimpse of what I see and feel
So you can see the way I feel it too
I want you to visualise how I see and feel the world
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Perhaps I made a mistake with my words or actions
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Can I fix the situation by bringing it into the light and resolving it?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Perhaps I made a mistake with my words or actions
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Can I fix the situation by bringing it into the light and resolving it?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Perhaps I made a mistake with my words or actions
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Can I fix the situation by bringing it into the light and resolving it?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Perhaps I made a mistake with my words or actions
Can I make it better with the lights turned on
Can I fix the situation by bringing it into the light and resolving it?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Romy Anna Madley Croft, Oliver David Sim, James Thomas Smith, Baria Qureshi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@riaki12345
"Shelter"
I find shelter, in this way
Under cover, hide away
Can you hear, when I say?
I have never felt this way
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Could I be, was I there?
It felt so crystal in the air
I still want to drown, whenever you leave
Please teach me gently, how to breathe
And I'll cross oceans, like never before
So you can feel the way I feel it too
And I'll mirror images back at you
So you can see the way I feel it too
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
@zetan8543
"Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on?"
These lines hit me so hard.
Was in a relationship with a girl who had a history of being sexually abused.
Whenever we argued we'd make up with sex, like a natural thing. Until one day we had a huge fight and she spoke to me in tears: "Can we resolve this outside of bed this time?"
At that point of time I thought she was thinking that I was with her only for sex, so I left the apartment, feeling offended.
I didn't talk to her for 2 days to calm my emotions, and when I finally decided to I was too late. She committed suicide just 1 hour before I was trying to call her on phone.
Pride never goes well with love. If you love someone, say it before it's too late.. Sometimes 1 sentence at the right time could save lives.
@SpiritsEnchantments
I think Birdy has a very old soul.. something dark and beautiful about her.
@awacat3114
I dont feel dark, i would tell she is deep.
@Tripl3333
very true....
@marianatomatis4254
oh yes she definitely has darkness, depth and beauty. I hope that soon she can dive the dark side more to exploit it more. the industry still wants her angeled and innocent.
@redheadassassin2864
I agree 💯💯
@sachalebabe
I think it's beautiful that she is who she is, if it's an old, gentle soul, even if if it appears also somewhat dark to some. I think a singer doesn't have to be like a modern, famous pop star with blond hair ect. and that's what is so special about Birdy.
@suicidewolfiexx
She was 14 when she made this. Just think about that. Most amazing singer and pianist ever 🖤
@awesomebeard1973
Wait til you hear Young Heart her new album Her voice is way better as an adult IMo. shes great here but it sounds like a kid, cause it was
@peterjaszczyk8056
Wow,she is amazing ,and the first song is classy 👍
@souldiving4197
@BrainMasage OldSchool obviously