The fourth album Seventh Tree placed a greater emphasis on ambient and downtempo music, drawing inspiration from nature and paganism, while their fifth album, Head First, found the group exploring 1980s-influenced synthpop. Head First also earned the second Grammy Award nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album in 2010. Goldfrapp released their critically acclaimed sixth studio album, the folktronica-influenced Tales of Us, in September 2013. Goldfrapp released their seventh studio album, Silver Eye, in March 2017, which debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart.
Discography
Felt Mountain (2000)
Black Cherry (2003)
Supernature (2005)
Seventh Tree (2008)
Head First (2010)
Tales of Us (2013)
Silver Eye (2017)
Little Bird
Goldfrapp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She flies from a to b
To see what she can see
She's far away from me
We danced down the mall
We danced by the sea
The land of blue gold
July-ly-ly
July-ly-ly
July-ly-ly
Where we were freed
Where we were freed
The shiny blackest crow
Flew out to sail along
Though much to her surprise
He had two mouths for eyes
She understood his words
The crow's feathery pleads
He gave to her his wings
And now she is free
July-ly-ly
July-ly-ly
July-ly-ly
Now we are free
Now we are free
July-ly-ly
July-ly-ly
July-ly-ly
The lyrics of Goldfrapp's "Little Bird" evoke a sense of longing and distance, as well as a freedom that is just out of reach. The opening lines describe the eponymous "little bird" as a wanderer who flies from one place to another, always seeking out new experiences and discovering what lies beyond the horizon. This little bird is far away from the singer of the song, suggesting a sense of separation or missed connection.
The song's chorus, with its repeated refrain of "July-ly-ly," creates a dreamlike quality that transports the listener to a different time and place. The singer reminisces about dancing with the little bird in different locations, from the mall to the sea, and describes a sense of release or liberation in these experiences. The land of "blue gold" is where they were freed, a phrase that suggests the beauty and value of their shared experiences.
The final verse introduces a new character: a shiny black crow with two mouths for eyes. This surreal image underscores the otherworldly quality of the song and adds to the sense of magical possibility that permeates its lyrics. The crow and the little bird communicate in their own way, and the crow grants the little bird the gift of flight, allowing her to be free. The final repetition of "July-ly-ly" suggests that this newfound freedom is something to be celebrated and cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
She's like a little bird
The subject of the song is akin to a small bird.
She flies from a to b
The subject travels from place to place.
To see what she can see
The subject is searching for new experiences and opportunities.
She's far away from me
The subject is physically distant from the artist.
We danced down the mall
The artist and the subject danced in a public area.
We danced by the sea
The singer and the subject danced near the ocean.
The land of blue gold
The location where the singer and the subject were when they felt free.
Is where we were freed
The location where the artist and the subject experienced a sense of liberation and escape.
July-ly-ly
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase that may indicate the artist's state of mind or add to the song's dreamlike quality.
The shiny blackest crow
A crow with a glossy black and dark appearance.
Flew out to sail along
The crow flew alongside the subject.
Though much to her surprise
The subject was caught off guard by the crow's appearance or unexpected behavior.
He had two mouths for eyes
The crow's eyes are described in a strange, surreal way.
She understood his words
The subject was able to comprehend the crow's message or communicate with it effectively.
The crow's feathery pleads
The crow conveyed a message through its body language and vocalizations.
He gave to her his wings
The crow allowed the subject to fly with it.
And now she is free
The subject found freedom by following or communicating with the crow.
Now we are free
The singer and the subject both found a sense of liberation through their experiences together.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALISON ELIZABETH GOLDFRAPP, WILLIAM OWEN GREGORY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind