Bird's Eye
Mike Patton Serj Tankian Marc Streitenfeld Lyrics


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They bind you by the sand
And by the sand in blood
Blood in their eyes
You hear their speechless cries
You seek their vengeance
For their lost sight
With their justices
There only so much lights

Look in my eye look in my eye

Bird's eye sees the world full of dark skies
Bird's eye sees the world full of flags on fire

Look in my eye look in my eye

The fire burns in you
Consumes your brother too
You're stumbling all the way
Karma's a ricochet
The sun that shines for you
Shines for your brother too
Fire that burns in you
Consumes your brother too
Sun that shines for you
Shines for your brother too

Zoom out and catch a few
It's right in front of you
The view from up this high
It's like a satellite
In the distance
Watch the colours bend
On my horizon
It may never end

Look in my eye look in my eye

Bird's eye sees the world full of dark skies
Bird's eye sees the world full of flags on fire
Bird's eye open wide into the blue sky
Bird's eye open up and let it be your guide

Look in my eye look in my eye:
The fire burns in you
Consumes your brother too
You're stumbling all the way
Karma's a ricochet
The sun that shines for you
Shines for your brother too
Fire that burns in you
Consumes your brother too
Sun that shines for you
Shines for your brother too

Look in my eye look in my eye

In the bird's eye
In the bird's eye
In the bird's eye




In the bird's eye
In the bird's eye

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Bird's Eye" seem to be addressing themes of unity and the shared experiences of humanity. The opening lines suggest that people are bound together by something as inescapable as sand - perhaps a shared history, culture or circumstance. The use of blood as well suggests that there is a deep emotional aspect to this shared experience. The second half of the verse then moves into the idea that people seek vengeance but also justice, implying that these experiences may not always be positive. The repeated line "Look in my eye" adds a personal note to the lyrics, perhaps indicating the singer is addressing someone directly, and is trying to convey an important message.


The chorus expands upon the themes of the verses by using the bird's-eye view to imply a sense of scale, and suggest that the world is in turmoil, with dark skies and flags burning. However, the chorus also offers a sense of hope - the bird's-eye view is an empowering perspective that can allow us to see beyond immediate difficulties and into the wider picture. The connection to the opening verses is found in the final line, with the message that the sun shines for everyone, regardless of whether they are consumed by fire or not. The closing refrain of "In the bird's eye" places this message in a wider context - seen from this perspective, the connections between people are clearer, and perhaps we can move beyond division.


Overall, the lyrics of "Bird's Eye" are both deeply personal and universal. They suggest that even in the most divided or troubled of times, there is a shared experience that can connect us, and that seeing things from a different perspective can help us find hope.



Line by Line Meaning

They bind you by the sand
You are being held captive by your surroundings, unable to break free and make your own choices.


And by the sand in blood
This captivity is further complicated by violence and bloodshed.


Blood in their eyes
Those who hold you captive are blinded by the violence and unable to see clearly.


You hear their speechless cries
Despite their blindness, you can still hear their pain and suffering.


You seek their vengeance
You feel a desire to retaliate against those who have wronged you.


For their lost sight
You want to avenge not only the harm they've caused you, but also their inability to see the true consequences of their actions.


With their justices
You recognize that they may have thought their actions were justified in some way.


There only so much lights
However, you also understand that their perspective is limited and misguided.


Look in my eye look in my eye
Pay attention to me and what I have to say.


Bird's eye sees the world full of dark skies
A different perspective can reveal a world full of darkness and despair.


Bird's eye sees the world full of flags on fire
The world is in chaos and conflict, with nations and ideologies clashing.


The fire burns in you
You are also consumed by anger and a desire for vengeance.


Consumes your brother too
Your actions will also harm those close to you.


You're stumbling all the way
Your journey towards revenge is fraught with obstacles and difficulties.


Karma's a ricochet
Your actions will have consequences, and the harm you cause will come back to you in unexpected ways.


The sun that shines for you
You are not alone, and everyone has the same opportunities and chances in life.


Shines for your brother too
Those close to you also have the potential to succeed in life.


Zoom out and catch a few
Take a step back and look at the bigger picture.


It's right in front of you
The truth is sometimes hidden in plain sight.


The view from up this high
Choosing a different perspective can give you a clearer understanding of the situation.


It's like a satellite
A different perspective can give you an almost omnipotent view of the world.


In the distance
Even from this wider perspective, there are still things out of reach and unknown.


Watch the colours bend
Observe the way that different perspectives affect and alter reality.


On my horizon
This wider perspective is a source of hope for the future.


It may never end
There will always be new perspectives to explore and discover.


Bird's eye open wide into the blue sky
A different perspective can reveal a peaceful and tranquil world.


Bird's eye open up and let it be your guide
Use a different perspective to guide your decisions and actions.


In the bird's eye
The perspective of the bird gives a different and often clearer view of the world.




Contributed by Kaylee M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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