Her credits include being an original cast member of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1968), the female lead (Sheila) in the Los Angeles company of Hair (1968), a number 1 single "The Right Time of the Night" (1977) and 3 Oscars for Best Song - "It Goes Like it Goes," from Norma Rae (1980), "Up Where We Belong," (with Joe Cocker) from "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), & "I've Had the Time of My Life," (with Bill Medley) from "Dirty Dancing" (1987). (Her duets with Cocker & Medley were also #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.)
She toured with Leonard Cohen in 1972 & 1979. In 1987, she recorded "Famous Blue Raincoat" - an album of Cohen's compositions.
Bird On A Wire
Jennifer Warnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a fish on a hook,
Like a knight from an old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I have been unkind,
I hope that you could just let it go by.
I hope you know it was never to you. no, no
Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
By all I have done wrong
I'll make it all up to you. yes I will
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
H called out to me, "don't ask for so much."
And a young man leaning on his darkened door,
He cried out to me, "hey, why not ask for more?"
Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
The lyrics to Jennifer Warnes's song "Bird On A Wire" explore the complexity of human emotions and experiences. At its core, the song is about the struggle to be free while recognizing the impact of our actions on those around us. The opening line, "Like a bird on the wire," creates a metaphor for the main theme of the song. Just as a bird on a wire is constrained and limited in its movements, so too are we often constrained by societal expectations or personal limitations. Similarly, the comparison to a drunk in a midnight choir suggests a sense of disorientation or confusion in the face of these constraints.
Warnes also touches on the themes of guilt and regret, acknowledging that she has been unkind and untrue but hoping to make up for her mistakes. The lines, "But I swear by this song / By all I have done wrong / I'll make it all up to you," suggest a willingness to take responsibility for her actions and make amends. However, the song also acknowledges the difficulty of this process, describing the experiences of a stillborn baby and a beast with his horn who has hurt those around him.
Overall, "Bird On A Wire" is a powerful exploration of the human experience, touching on themes of freedom, constraint, guilt, and regret. The song's use of vivid metaphors and powerful imagery enhances its impact, making it both an emotional and intellectual experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a bird on the wire,
I feel exposed and vulnerable, like a bird perched on a wire above the ground.
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I feel like a misfit, like a drunk who has stumbled into a choir at midnight and doesn't belong.
I have tried in my way to be free.
I've tried to live life on my own terms, in a way that is meaningful to me, even if it goes against social norms and expectations.
Like a fish on a hook,
I feel trapped, like a fish on a hook, unable to escape the struggles and challenges life presents me.
Like a knight from an old fashioned book
I see myself as a chivalrous knight from a bygone era, holding onto traditional values and ideals despite the changing times.
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
I have kept my best for someone special, hoping to give everything to them.
If I have been unkind,
If I've hurt anyone with my actions or words,
I hope that you could just let it go by.
I hope they can forgive me and move past it, even if I can't make up for it fully or explain myself.
And if I have been untrue
If I've betrayed someone's trust or been deceitful,
I hope you know it was never to you. no, no
I want them to know that I didn't intentionally hurt them, and they weren't the target of my actions.
Like a baby, stillborn,
I feel like something precious and fragile, but also unable to fully form or come to life, like a stillborn baby.
Like a beast with his horn
I can be aggressive and defensive, like a beast protecting its territory with its horn.
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
I've hurt the people who have tried to help me, or failed to accept their support when I needed it most.
But I swear by this song
I make a solemn promise, pledging myself to a higher purpose and cause by an oath made through this song.
By all I have done wrong
Despite my past mistakes and failings,
I'll make it all up to you. yes I will
I will do everything in my power to make amends, to atone for my wrongdoings and repay the kindness others have shown me.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
I witnessed a person in a vulnerable state, relying on others and their kindness to get by.
H called out to me, "don't ask for so much."
The beggar warned me not to get too greedy or selfish, to be content with what little I have and not demand more from life than it can give.
And a young man leaning on his darkened door,
I also saw a young person struggling to find their way in life, unsure of what lies beyond the threshold of their own darkness and confusion.
He cried out to me, "hey, why not ask for more?"
The young man urged me to dream big and chase after my desires and ambitions, to not settle for less than what I truly want in life.
Like a bird on the wire,
Once again, I am reminded of my own vulnerability and uncertainty in life, and how I must continue to navigate the challenges and obstacles that come my way as gracefully as possible.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind