Comprising Philip Moore (vocals, guitar), Beth Tacular (accordion, vocals) and Mark Paulson (violin, vocals), their début album, Hymns for a Dark Horse (2007), was released on Burly Time Records, followed by their second album, Upper Air in July 2009 and album number three, The Clearing in March 2012.
Whereas the first two albums were recorded on the quick and the cheap, the songs sounding like "old, familiar campfire anthems sung by a couple clinging to very deep love". For the recording of The Clearing they had more time and better resources, making it a bigger sounding record, with bolder sounds, a broader scope, and more complicated songs. It was more than a third record for Bowerbirds. Between 2009 and 2012, Beth Tacular nearly died after a mysterious illness that put her in the hospital.
Beth and Phil even ended their long relationship but began it again after realizing that, despite their own shortcomings, they didn’t want to be with anyone else. Mostly, though, they returned to their cabin in the woods of North Carolina to nest—to make soup and walk dogs, to make art and write songs, to realize that this was their life and find contentment in it.
From 2012 to 2020, they did not release anything until the release of a string of digital singles in 2020 (they were compiled on Endless Chase: 20 Singles) and a long overdue new studio album, becalmyounglovers, in 2021.
Bur Oak
Bowerbirds Lyrics
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(And the beat we both stomp on the floor),
While outside the leopard frogs sing sweetly.
These are the hymns that today weve ignored.
And all across the desert, and all up in the mountains:
A wind so loud that we might never mention.
And heres to my lovers hands and feet.
And down in the dirt, in her wandering,
Find the snail to give us breath, to give us words.
He asks us for our patience, he asks us for our patience,
And he asks us what we have done for our souls lately.
Down by the bur oak tree, I had lost your locket in the loam,
And there fell to my knees, neath the coil and the brush of the fern.
The candles light dances across the table,
And will burn at the tip of my pen.
And lures all the moths into the kitchen
To spin tales and bend truths through the evening.
And scribe for them their stories; we scribe for them their stories,
While they wax and wax of their lives in the country.
Down by the bur oak tree, I had lost your locket in the loam,
And there fell to my knees, neath the coil and the brush of the fern
The lyrics of Bowerbirds' song Bur Oak paint a picturesque scene that speaks to the beauty of nature, and the challenges of finding oneself in it. The opening lines describe a room that is calling to the singer, amidst the thumping of the beat on the floor. Despite this noise, they can hear the sweet singing of leopard frogs outside – a sound that goes ignored in the midst of the chaos. The singer then speaks of a wind that is so loud it's never mentioned - an image that suggests an overwhelming force that goes unacknowledged.
As the song progresses, the singer gives thanks to their lover's hands and feet, which they describe as roots that weave through the floor. They then speak of a snail that can give them breath and words, suggesting that nature has the power to enlighten and inspire. However, the song takes a turn as they describe losing a locket beneath the coil and brush of ferns, and falling to their knees in despair. The beauty of nature is contrasted with the difficulty of finding oneself, and the two parts of the song show different sides of the same coin.
These lyrics are open to interpretation, but they speak to the idea that nature and our environment can be a source of inspiration, and also a source of challenge. The singer's struggles seem to be rooted in the natural world, and they navigate this terrain with the help of their lover and the creatures around them. The imagery is rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of both the beauty and the difficulty of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
The room calls to me, says were all strung out
The environment around me is telling me that we're all stressed out.
While outside the leopard frogs sing sweetly.
Despite our stress inside, nature is still beautiful and harmonious, exemplified by the sweet songs of the frogs outside.
These are the hymns that today weve ignored.
We are so consumed by our stress that we've forgotten the simple joys of nature's hymns.
And all across the desert, and all up in the mountains:
Even in the vast and remote areas of the world, there exist winds that are so powerful they cannot be ignored.
A wind so loud that we might never mention.
This powerful wind is so loud and overwhelming that we overlook it, despite its ever-presence.
And heres to my lovers hands and feet.
Cheers to the physical connection and grounding presence provided by my lover's hands and feet.
They are the roots that will weave through the floor.
Just as roots anchor a tree to the ground, my lover's presence anchors me to reality.
And down in the dirt, in her wandering,
Even in my lover's searching and exploration, there is growth and beauty to be found.
Find the snail to give us breath, to give us words.
Even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures, such as a snail, can provide us with inspiration and new ideas.
He asks us for our patience, he asks us for our patience,
The snail's presence teaches us the importance of patience and being present in the moment.
And he asks us what we have done for our souls lately.
The snail's presence makes us question whether we are nurturing our souls and engaging in meaningful activities.
Down by the bur oak tree, I had lost your locket in the loam,
The artist recalls a specific moment of loss and desperation, symbolized by the bur oak tree.
And there fell to my knees, neath the coil and the brush of the fern.
Overwhelmed by their loss, the singer surrenders to the natural environment and the solace it might provide.
The candles light dances across the table,
The gentle light of a candle creates a calming and intimate atmosphere.
And will burn at the tip of my pen.
The candlelight physically and metaphorically inspires the singer's creativity, as they put pen to paper.
And lures all the moths into the kitchen
The peaceful ambiance created by the candles even attracts moths, further demonstrating the power of nature to calm and captivate.
To spin tales and bend truths through the evening.
The presence of nature and the candles inspire storytelling and creativity, even if some truths are altered or exaggerated.
And scribe for them their stories; we scribe for them their stories,
The inspiration drawn from the natural environment and the power of storytelling is shared, as the singer records the narratives and experiences of others.
While they wax and wax of their lives in the country.
The subjects of these stories wax poetic about their lives amidst the natural landscapes of the country.
Contributed by Peyton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.