Littlest Birds
Jolie Holland Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I feel like an old hobo, I'm sad, lonesome and blue
I was fair as a summer's day, now the summer days are through
You pass through places and places pass through you
But you carry them with you on the soles of your travelers shoes

Well, I love you so dearly, I love you so clearly
I wake you up in the morning, so early just to tell you
I got the wandering blues, I got the wandering blues
And I'm going to quit these rambling ways
One of these days soon, ooh

And I sing, the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs

Well, it's times like these I feel so small
And wild like the rambling footsteps of a wandering child
And I'm lonesome as a lonesome whippoorwill
Singing these blues with a warble and a trill
But I'm not too blue to fly, no I'm not too blue to fly

'Cause the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs

But I love you so dearly, I love you so fearlessly
I wake you up in the morning so early, just to tell you
I've got the wandering blues, I've got the wandering blues
And I don't want to leave you, I love you through and through

Well, I left my baby, on a pretty blue train
And I sang my songs to the cold and the rain
And I had the wandering blues, and I sang those wandering blues
And I'm gonna quit these rambling ways one of these
Days soon, ooh

And I sing, the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs

Well, I don't care if the sun don't shine
And I don't care if nothing is mine




And I don't care if I'm nervous with you
I'll do my loving in the wintertime

Overall Meaning

The Littlest Birds by Jolie Holland is a song about the life of a wanderer, who travels from place to place, through different experiences and meets several people along the way. The song opens with the singer feeling sad, blue, and like an old hobo. She talks about how she used to be happy like a summer's day but now since the summer days are gone, she feels empty. She sings about how places pass through you, and there is a certain feeling of melancholy and loss that remains with you no matter where you go. However, travel becomes a part of your identity, and the experiences you gain become a part of your soul.


The singer then talks about how she loves someone dearly and wakes them up in the morning just to tell them that she has the wandering blues. She wants to quit her rambling ways but seems hesitant. She sings that even though she feels small and lonesome like a wandering child, she is not too blue to fly. She continues to sing about how the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs and how she loves her partner, but she can't give up her traveling ways just yet.


Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of the wanderlust that exists within the human spirit. The lyrics convey the pain of leaving behind things that we love but also the thrill of new experiences and the freedom that comes with traveling. It encourages us to embrace adventure, seize the moment and live our lives on our terms.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I feel like an old hobo, I'm sad, lonesome and blue
I feel like a wanderer who has been around for a long time, and it makes me lonely, and sorrowful.


I was fair as a summer's day, now the summer days are through
I used to be happy like a bright summer's day, but now that the summer is gone, my happiness is too.


You pass through places and places pass through you
As you travel, the places you visit leave a piece of themselves within you.


But you carry them with you on the soles of your travelers shoes
As you walk on your journey, the memories and experiences of your travels stay with you on your shoes.


Well, I love you so dearly, I love you so clearly
I love you so much, and my love for you is crystal clear.


I wake you up in the morning, so early just to tell you
I wake you up early just because I want to tell you how much I love you.


I got the wandering blues, I got the wandering blues
I am feeling the urge to wander and travel.


And I'm going to quit these rambling ways One of these days soon, ooh
I will stop travelling soon.


And I sing, the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.


Well, it's times like these I feel so small
Sometimes I feel insignificant.


And wild like the rambling footsteps of a wandering child
I feel unpredictable like a child wandering aimlessly.


And I'm lonesome as a lonesome whippoorwill
I feel very lonely.


Singing these blues with a warble and a trill
Singing about my sorrows with a wavering voice.


But I'm not too blue to fly, no I'm not too blue to fly
Despite feeling sad, I am still able to soar.


And I don't want to leave you, I love you through and through
I don't want to leave you because I love you completely.


Well, I left my baby, on a pretty blue train
I left my loved one on a train.


And I sang my songs to the cold and the rain
I sang about my feelings in the cold and rain.


And I had the wandering blues, and I sang those wandering blues
I had the desire to travel, and I sang about it.


And I'm gonna quit these rambling ways one of these days soon, ooh
I will stop wandering soon.


Well, I don't care if the sun don't shine
I don't care if things don't go well.


And I don't care if nothing is mine
I don't care if I have nothing to call my own.


And I don't care if I'm nervous with you
I don't mind feeling jittery around you.


I'll do my loving in the wintertime
I will love you even in the toughest and coldest of times.


The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.


And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.


The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.


And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.


The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.


And the littlest birds sing the prettiest songs
The smallest creatures often have the most beautiful voices.




Lyrics © SONGS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND, SAMANTHA ELIZABETH PARTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions