Slankard began learning the guitar when she was 10 years old. At age 17, she produced and recorded her first album, "Lady is a Pirate", with her brother at home on her computer.
After turning 18, Slankard toured with David Knopfler as the opening act for his European tour and co-wrote the title song of his album Ship of Dreams.
In 2003, she released an album as The Megan Slankard Band.
Slankard's album Freaky Little Story appeared on the Acoustic Guitar 2004 Top 5 list. She was a semi-finalist in Discmaker's 2007 Independent Music World Series and International Songwriting Competition and finalist in the 2008 and 2009 Musician's Atlas/Borders Books Independent Music Awards. She was the January 2009 Top 5 artist in the Famecast Competition.
Slankard released her album "A Token of the Wreckage" in 2011.
Also in 2011, she co-founded the Reno-based lyrical rock band The Novelists.
Slankard was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Folk/Singer Songwriter Song of the year for her song "The Happy Birthday". Slankard won the 8th annual Independent Music Awards Vox Pop award in the Best Cover Song category for her rendering of the song "America".
He album "Running on Machinery" was released in 2015.
Mocking Bird
Megan Slankard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd mock you
In soft winds
And silent words
I'd spot you
Like snow blushing in the sunlight
And I'd melt you
Like morning into twilight
If I were a mocking bird
Would you chain me
In view of the endless sky world
From the window
Wind reaches, desperate, through the cage bars
To seize me
And I'd die in your arms
But not your heart
If it please you
Fire flies and so do I
I fly high to hide in flight
Why, I delight in blue sky
It's almost like dying
Mocking bird
I'd fly all around
Top of the world
And never come down
From here
If I were a mocking bird
I'd give you feathers
And my very own blood
And other treasures
Which you keep on your dresser at night
In corner darkness
By the candle that you never light
Though it be moonless
Fire flies, so do I
I fly to hide in flight
Why, I delight in blue sky
It's so much, so much like dying
Against the tide
I'd fly all around
With the wind
And never come down
From here
Fire flies, so do I
I fly high to hide in flight
I delight in windy sky
It's almost so much like dying
Fire flies, so do I
I fly high to ride like kites
Why, I delight in blue sky
It is almost so much like dying
If I were a mocking bird
I'd fly all around
To the top of the world
And never come down
From here
The lyrics of Megan Slankard's "Mocking Bird" are an interesting representation of the conflicted emotions of a person who is in love with someone, but is not sure if the feelings are being reciprocated. The lyrics are written in the form of a hypothetical scenario where the singer imagines herself as a mocking bird who would mock the person she loves, both in affectionate and sarcastic ways. She imagines herself melting this person like morning into twilight which represents the intensity of her emotions. The use of the bird as the symbolic representation of her feelings reflects the desire to fly away from reality and be free from the burden of unrequited love. The singer reflects on the possibility of being chained, unable to express herself freely, and dying in that state. The lyrics also make references to the beauty of the blue sky and flying high, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the emotional highs and lows of love.
The use of interesting imagery and metaphors is a notable element of the song. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and the desire to escape from the limitations that are keeping the lovers apart. The "snow blushing in the sunlight" is a vivid description of a beautiful sight, and the use of fireflies to represent flight adds to the magical atmosphere of the song. The lyrics also make references to the wind and the tide, which further emphasize the theme of being free from constraints. The repetition of the words "so much like dying" and "never come down" adds an element of drama to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a mocking bird
The singer imagines what they would do if they were a mocking bird.
I'd mock you
They would mimic and tease the person being addressed.
In soft winds
The mocking bird would do so subtly and gently.
And silent words
There would be no sound accompanying it.
I'd spot you
The singer would notice and take aim at the person being addressed.
Like snow blushing in the sunlight
The person being addressed would be conspicuous and vulnerable.
And I'd melt you
The singer would make them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.
Like morning into twilight
It would happen gradually and naturally as day turns to night.
Would you chain me
The singer wonders if they would be restrained and held captive.
In view of the endless sky world
Despite being able to see the vast, open sky, the mocking bird would not be able to fly freely.
From the window
The mocking bird would be confined to a small space indoors.
Wind reaches, desperate, through the cage bars
The wind outside would taunt and tease the bird, but it would be out of their reach.
To seize me
Despite the mocking bird's desire to be free, they would be trapped and powerless.
And I'd die in your arms
Despite the singer's resistance to captivity, they would ultimately succumb and perish within the confines of their cage.
But not your heart
The person being addressed might not feel remorse or regret for their actions.
Fire flies and so do I
The mocking bird compares themselves to a firefly, a creature that also flies but is free to do so.
I fly high to hide in flight
The singer takes pleasure in soaring through the sky and feeling unencumbered.
Why, I delight in blue sky
The open sky is a source of joy and freedom for the mocking bird.
Mocking bird
The person being addressed is reminded of the singer's hypothetical existence as a mocking bird.
I'd fly all around
The mocking bird would not stay in one place.
Top of the world
The bird would soar to great heights.
And never come down
The bird would keep soaring and never return to the ground.
I'd give you feathers
The singer would offer physical tokens of their affection and loyalty.
And my very own blood
The singer would even sacrifice part of themselves for the person being addressed.
And other treasures
They would give whatever they could to please and demonstrate their devotion.
Which you keep on your dresser at night
The person being addressed would hold onto these gifts even when they slept.
In corner darkness
These treasures would be hidden away in shadows and obscurity.
By the candle that you never light
Despite having these precious items, the person addressed does not give them the attention they deserve.
Though it be moonless
The singer's gifts would still shine and sparkle even without the light of the moon.
Against the tide
The singer would resist the pull towards captivity and conformity.
With the wind
They would follow the open skies and pursue their freedom.
I fly high to ride like kites
The mocking bird revels in the feeling of being carried along by the breeze like a kite on a string.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE FOXX, INEZ FOXX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind