Watching Michael at age 7 walk around with a broom pretending it was a guitar when the Rock It Hour appeared on television, Doris Powers bought her son a guitar by cashing in a book of saving stamps. Soon after, a friend visited with a guitar and played a song. Michael rushed back to his room and played that exact tune. From then on, Doris was convinced that her son had a special talent and imposed a strict musical routine. Every day, Michael had to listen to records and play along with them. Doris' words 'Michael turn the record over" still echo in his ears. It would prove to be a strong influence as Doris' favorites included Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Billie Holiday, and John Lee Hooker.
At 12 Michael Powers would run across the street from the family shop in New Jersey to see an entertainer that played weekly at Max's – none other than the great Jimmy Reed. Jimmy Reed played harmonica and guitar, sang and stomped while his wife played tambourine and sang in harmony. Seeing Jimmy Reed was a true revelation and influence, quickly followed by the first US televised performance of the Beatles and the guitar wizardry of Jimi Hendrix, all of which had an impact on Michael’s musical direction.
While in high school, Michael started his first band the RB ZigZags. He then joined for a brief spell the Ad Libs, who recorded the cult hit "Boy from New York City". The Ad Libs routinely toured with the top ten bands of the country and opened, among others, for the Everly Brothers, Kool & the Gang (then called the Soul Town Review), The Box Tops, and Richie Havens.
Upon settling back in New York in the 70s, Michael formed a new band, Moonbeam, and played the New York City club circuit during the heyday of the Blues Brothers, The Ritz, and the New York Dolls. The band, which would stay together for 13 years, toured all over the country and opened for such artists as James Brown, Bo Diddley, and the Ronettes. Michael also toured with James Cotton, sharing the stage with such icons as Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray and John Lee Hooker.
After the Moonbeam's breakup, Michael Powers went solo taking his virtuosity and sound for both acoustic and electric guitar and writing powerful originals. In 2002, after many years and many gigs, Michael was “rediscovered” one night in a New York City club by Andrew Mullhaupt of Baryon Records. The critically-acclaimed debut solo album, Onyx Root (2004 Baryon Records), received two blues music awards nominations in 2005 – Best New Artist Debut and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year.
Influenced by the greatest bluesmen in history, Michael Powers is one of them with his own unique sound, style and soulful talent.
Bird on a Wire
Michael Powers 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 worm on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
I hope you know it was never to you.
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
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"
Oh like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
In Michael Power's song Bird on a Wire, the lyrics are a metaphorical journey of the singer's life. The opening line, "Like a bird on the wire," symbolizes his life, where he is perched on a wire and teetering, trying to find balance in a world that doesn't give him much of it. Just like how a bird is vulnerable to predators while sitting on a wire, he too is exposed to the cruel nature of life. The next line, "Like a drunk in a midnight choir," further emphasizes the feeling of isolation and being lost that the singer experiences. It's like he's in a crowd of people, but no one is there for him, and he's just a drunk in a choir who can't seem to find his way home.
Throughout the song, he highlights the different roles he has played in his life, where he has been caught between two different worlds, like "a worm on a hook" or "a knight from some old-fashioned book." However, he conveys that the reason he has tried to play all these roles is that he wants to be free, to explore life to its fullest. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and been unkind to others, but he hopes that those whom he has hurt will forgive him. The last verse of the song is about two people the singer meets, a beggar, and a pretty woman. They both give him contrasting advice. While the beggar advises him to lower his expectations and not ask for too much, the woman suggests otherwise. The singer seems to be at a crossroads, not sure which advice to take, but ultimately he knows he has to follow his own path and try to be free.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a bird on the wire,
I feel exposed and vulnerable, like a bird perched on a wire, balancing precariously.
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I feel lost, out of place, and uncertain, like a drunk person who has stumbled into a choir practice in the middle of the night.
I have tried in my way to be free.
Despite my struggles and hardships, I have always striven to live my life on my own terms and be true to myself.
Like a worm on a hook,
At times, I have felt trapped and manipulated, like a worm on a hook being reeled in by a fisherman.
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
Other times, I have felt like a chivalrous knight from a long-ago era, valiantly rescuing maidens and fighting for noble causes.
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
I have collected and treasured everything that is special to me, and I will give it all to you because you are important to me.
If I, if I have been unkind,
If there were times when I was rude, unfair, or ungrateful,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and move past those moments.
If I, if I have been untrue
If there were times when I was dishonest, disloyal, or unfaithful,
I hope you know it was never to you.
I want you to understand that my actions were not a reflection of my feelings towards you.
Like a baby, stillborn,
I feel like something vital and precious has been taken away from me, like a baby who is lost before it even has a chance to live.
Like a beast with his horn
Sometimes, I have acted aggressively and unintentionally harmed those around me, like a wild animal with its horns lowered for attack.
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
I have hurt and pushed away anyone who tried to help or connect with me.
But I swear by this song
I am making a solemn and sincere promise, right here and now, that
And by all that I have done wrong
I am taking responsibility for my past mistakes and shortcomings, and acknowledging that I have a lot to make up for.
I will make it all up to thee.
I am committed to earning back your trust and making amends for everything I've done wrong.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
I encountered a man who was destitute and struggling to get by, leaning on a makeshift cane for support.
He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."
He advised me to be grateful for what I have and not expect or demand more than I am entitled to.
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
I encountered a beautiful woman standing in a shadowy doorway, her face partially obscured.
She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"
She encouraged me to pursue my dreams and aim higher, to not settle for less than what I deserve.
Oh like a bird on the wire,
Once again, I feel exposed, vulnerable, and at risk of falling, like a bird perched on a thin wire.
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
Once again, I feel disoriented, out of sync, and unsure of my place, like an intoxicated person crashing a choir's late-night rehearsal.
I have tried in my way to be free.
But despite my struggles and setbacks, I have never lost sight of what freedom means to me, and I have always worked to claim it in my own way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind