Describing themselves as “string-rock”, the band started up in 2009 and quickly took hold of New England’s musical imagination. Playing over 100 shows during their first year of touring, the band created a seamless, exhilarating sound at the intersection of rock, classical, and folk music. Their self-produced six-song EP 1 earned high praise for its craftsmanship and originality, and their brand new subscription album Pilot Machines was released in 2012.
Birds Say
Darlingside Lyrics
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Don't know what the birds
Listen to them all day
Nothing sounds like words
Don't know if the colors
Look the same to you
Maybe you see white
Birds don't know what you say
Birds don't know what you
Might as well just say
Whatever comes to you
I don't know where time goes
Don't know where the time
These lyrics from Darlingside's song "Birds Say" suggest a contemplation of communication barriers and differences in perspective. The singer expresses uncertainty about understanding the language of birds, emphasizing their inability to decipher the sounds they hear as meaningful words. This can be seen as a metaphor for the challenges of communication and the limitations of human understanding.
The repetition of the motif of not knowing what the birds say reflects a sense of curiosity and wonder about the natural world around us. By listening to the birds all day, the singer highlights the beauty and mystery of nature's language, even if it may not be comprehensible to human ears. The contrast between human language and the non-verbal sounds of birds emphasizes the limitations of words in expressing certain experiences or emotions.
The lyrics also touch upon the subjectivity of perception, suggesting that individuals may see and interpret the world differently. The comparison of colors like white and blue, which may appear differently to different people, evokes a sense of relativity and the idea that one's perception is shaped by personal experience and perspective. This line could also hint at the idea of empathy and trying to see things from another's point of view.
The final section of the lyrics alludes to the elusive nature of time and the passage of time, echoing the theme of uncertainty and mystery present throughout the song. The singer's acknowledgment of not knowing where time goes can be interpreted as a reflection on the transient nature of life and the perpetual march of time that remains beyond our full comprehension. Overall, these lyrics invite listeners to contemplate the complexities of communication, perception, and the enigmatic qualities of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know what the birds say
Uncertainty and inability to comprehend the language of birds
Don't know what the birds
Lack of understanding regarding the communication of birds
Listen to them all day
Spending time trying to decipher the birds' sounds
Nothing sounds like words
The bird noises do not resemble any known language
Don't know if the colors
Uncertainty about perceptions of colors
Look the same to you
Whether colors appear identical to different individuals
Maybe you see white
Possibility of contrasting color perceptions
The way that I see blue
Subjective experience of colors may vary between people
Birds don't know what you say
Birds are unaware of human language
Birds don't know what you
Birds do not understand human communication
Might as well just say
Speaking freely without expectation of understanding
Whatever comes to you
Expressing thoughts without overthinking or restraint
I don't know where time goes
Sense of perplexity about the passage of time
Don't know where the time
Absence of knowledge regarding the movement of time
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: DONALD LEWIS MITCHELL, AUYON MUKHARJI, HARRIS ANDREW PASELTINER, DAVID CULVER SENFT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind