After The Story broke up in 1994 Brooke went solo, first as Jonatha Brooke & The Story and then simply under her own name. Her first album, Plumb (1995) was followed by 10 Cent Wings (1997) and a harder-rocking album, Steady Pull (2001). In February of 2004 she released Back in the Circus, which marked a first collaboration with songwriter Eric Bazilian (from The Hooters), and a few creative covers. Back in the Circus was released in April 2005 in the UK combining tracks from Back in the Circus and Steady Pull.
2007 saw the release of Careful What You Wish For, on which she continued the collaborations, not only with Eric Bazilian, but also JC Chasez, Nick Lachey and Sally Dworsky (to whom she dedicated "Sally" on Back in the Circus). Her 2008 effort, The Works was a sort of collaborative effort with Woody Guthrie, returning to her folk roots by imbuing Guthrie's words with her own musical style, resulting in a whole that is infinitely greater than the sum of its parts.
She's also contributed to soundtracks (e.g. I'll Try and other tracks on Peter Pan: Return to Neverland), and released Emmanuel (a track that she and Kevin Gilbert were working on when he died), and has her own record label Bad Dog (presumably a reference to Dog Dreams).
Visit her website for current tour information.
www.jonathabrooke.com
Little Bird
Jonatha Brooke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh little bird I wanna sing like you
The whole day through
Oh little bird why can't I be like you?
Oh little bird
Oh little bird I wanna be that brave
And never save
You fly away
When it's cold and you can't find another way
But you will sing and you will love until you find a place
You can stay
You can stay
And sing your little heart out til your dying day
I'll fly away
When it's cold and I can't find another way
I will sing and I will love until I find a place
I can stay
I can stay
And be as bold as you until my dying day
Oh little bird
Oh little bird I wanna sing like you
The whole day through
Oh little bird why can't I be like you?
Oh little bird
Oh little bird I wanna be that brave
And never save
My loving for some other rainy day
Oh little bird
Oh little bird now I will ne'er be blue
Because of you
Oh little bird now I can sing love true
In the song "Little Bird" by Jonatha Brooke, the singer expresses envy towards a little bird and their ability to sing and love fearlessly. The lyrics "Oh little bird, I wanna be that brave and never save my loving for some other rainy day" emphasize the singer's desire to love without hesitation or second-guessing. The little bird symbolizes a carefree and courageous spirit that the singer longs to embody.
Throughout the song, the singer contrasts herself with the little bird, claiming that she would fly away when it gets difficult, unlike the little bird who perseveres until they find a home. However, towards the end of the song, the singer gains inspiration from the little bird's fearlessness and expresses gratitude for the newfound ability to sing love truly.
Overall, "Little Bird" is a song about the human desire to be unafraid and love without limitations. The little bird symbolizes this unbridled spirit, inspiring the singer to become braver in their expression of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh little bird
The singer addresses the bird as the object of her admiration and desire to be like.
Oh little bird I wanna sing like you
The singer desires to possess the bird's ability to sing all day long.
The whole day through
The singer wants to be able to sing without end, just like the bird.
Oh little bird why can't I be like you?
The singer questions her inability to possess the bird's qualities.
Oh little bird
The admiration is repeated as the singer continues talking to the bird.
Oh little bird I wanna be that brave
The singer desires to possess the bird's bravery and lack of hesitation.
And never save
The bird is always fearless, never hesitant in any situation.
My loving for some other rainy day
The singer will not wait for a 'better time' to reveal her love, she will do it now like the bird does everything without hesitation.
You fly away
The bird flies away from a situation when necessary.
When it's cold and you can't find another way
The bird flies away to a warmer, safer place when it becomes too cold where it is.
But you will sing and you will love until you find a place
The bird will continue singing and living fearlessly even during the difficult transitions of finding a new home.
You can stay
The bird eventually finds a new place to call home, where it can stay.
You can stay
The repetition emphasizes the security and tranquility that comes with finding a new home.
And sing your little heart out til your dying day
The bird continues singing fearlessly, unwaveringly, every day of its life.
I'll fly away
The singer decides she too will fly away like the bird when necessary.
When it's cold and I can't find another way
The singer will leave for warmer, safer places when necessary.
I will sing and I will love until I find a place
The singer will continue loving and singing fearlessly even during times of transition and change.
I can stay
The singer will also find a secure place where she can stay.
I can stay
This line emphasizes the security and tranquility that comes with finding a new home for the singer, just like for the bird.
And be as bold as you until my dying day
The singer will be as fearless, bold, and unwavering in her actions and decisions, just like the bird is throughout its life.
Oh little bird
The final line emphasizes the unending admiration and gratitude the singer feels toward the bird for being such an inspiration.
Oh little bird now I will ne'er be blue
The singer will never feel down or discouraged thanks to the bird's inspiration.
Because of you
The bird serves as a source of inspiration and strength for the singer.
Oh little bird now I can sing love true
The singer now possesses the ability to sing and love fearlessly like the bird which was all along her aspiration.
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.