Wisener was born in Ballymoney and grew up in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where she attended the Coleraine High School for girls. After graduating, she went on to train at the Royal Scottish College of Music and Drama. In 2005, she represented Antrim in the highly acclaimed Rose of Tralee competition. Wisener also was part of Musical Theatre 4 Youth, and appeared in a workshop production of Falling.
In earlier days of her youth, Jayne worked in a local Pizzeria called Pizza Pomadoro's.
While performing in a youth production of West Side Story at the Millennium Forum in Derry, Wisener was spotted by a talent scout, who asked her to audition for a role in Sweeney Todd. Wisener was, at age 19, deemed too old to play the 16-year-old Johanna; when told this, Wisener "e-mailed them some pictures of [herself] without make-up. Usually looking young does [an actor] no favours at all but [she was] quite pleased this time." Wisener made her stage debut in the UK premiere of the musical Parade at the Donmar Warehouse theatre in 2007.
Green Finch & Linnet Bird
Jayne Wisener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nightingale, blackbird
How is it you sing?
How can you jubilate
Sitting in cages
Never taking wing?
Outside the sky waits
Just beyond the bars
How can you remain
Staring at the rain
Maddened by the stars?
How is it you sing
Anything?
How is it you sing?
My cage has many rooms
Damask and dark
Nothing there sings
Not even my lark
Larks never will, you know
When they're captive
Teach me to be more adaptive
Ah
Green finch and linnet bird
Nightingale, blackbird
Teach me how to sing
If I cannot fly
Let me sing
The opening lines of Jayne Wisener's song "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" from the "Sweeney Todd" musical ask a question about the birds in cages, "Green Finch and Linnet bird, Nightingale, Blackbird, how is it you sing?" Despite being trapped in cages, these birds still sing so beautifully. The song explores the idea of freedom and confinement, comparing it to different cages, including physical cages for birds and cages that the human mind creates for itself. The song shows a desire to break free of these limiting cages, to be more like the birds, to take wing and fly away to reach their full potential. The lyrics suggest that there is something inexplicable about birds' melodies that constantly float and rejoice. The song praises the birds in their cages for their ability to sing and encourages them to teach us how to sing too, even when we feel trapped.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the meaning of the birds' singing. Are they discussing or dreaming? Are they screaming or crowing? Are they fussing or simply rejoicing? The birds' singing raises these questions and poses the possibility that it is for wages – singing to be sold. The singer realizes that their own cage has many rooms, but nothing there sings, not even their lark. The singer acknowledges that Larks never will sing when they're captive and hence, pleads to the birds to teach them to sing.
Line by Line Meaning
Green Finch and Linnet bird
Asking the birds how they are able to sing
Nightingale, Blackbird
Specifically addressing different species of birds
How is it you sing?
Asking how the birds are able to produce such beautiful music
How can you jubilate
Asking how they can be so happy
Sitting in cages
Observing that the birds are trapped in cages
Never taking wing?
Wondering why they don't try to escape
Outside the sky waits
Reminding the birds that the world outside their cage is waiting for them
Beckoning, beckoning
Calling out to the birds
Just beyond the bars
Referring to the physical obstacle that's preventing them from flying away
How can you remain
Asking how they can be content with their limited existence
Staring at the rain
Observing the birds sitting still and unengaged
Maddened by the stars?
Questioning whether they are moved by the beauty of nature
Whence comes this melody
Asking where the birds' songs originate
Constantly floating?
Noting that their music seems to always be present
Is it rejoicing or merely a loaming?
Wondering if the birds are singing out of joy or something else
Are you discussing?
Asking if the birds are communicating with each other
Or fussing
Wondering if they are fighting
Or simply dreaming?
Asking if they are lost in thought
Are you crowing?
Asking if they are announcing their presence
Are you screaming?
Asking if they are calling out in distress
Ring dove and Robinet
Addressing specific types of birds
Is it for wages?
Asking if they sing for a reward
Singing to be sold?
Asking if they are singing to attract buyers
Have you decided it's safer in cages
Asking if the birds have adapted to their captivity
Singing when you're told?
Wondering if the birds sing only when prompted
My cage has many rooms
Talking about the metaphorical cage of human life and its many experiences
Damask and dark
Describing the various facets of life as both beautiful and dark
Nothing there sings
Reflecting on the fact that despite the many experiences in life, nothing brings true happiness
Not even my Lark
Not even the things that one might consider joyful can bring true contentment or escape from the metaphorical cage
Larks never will, you know
Realization that no matter how free or happy something may seem, it will never truly bring lasting happiness or freedom
When they're captive
Specifically referring to the inability of captive larks to sing or fly away
Teach me to be more adaptive
Asking the birds to teach her how to find contentment and happiness within the limitations of her physical existence
Teach me how to sing
Asking the birds to teach her how to find joy and meaning, even within the confines of her own life
If I cannot fly
Acknowledging that she is unable to escape her existence
Let me sing
Choosing to find joy and fulfillment in other ways within her limitations
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind