Quite appropriately, after completing an album that documented “endings” with such openness and aplomb, Morrissette brought his extended tenure in Vancouver to a close, relocating to Toronto and recruiting a new complement of players (Marshall Bureau on drums, Tavo Diez de Bonilla on bass, Randy Lee on violin, and Shaun Brodie on trumpet and keyboards) to complete the East Coast line-up.
After earning critical praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Uncut and Americana UK (Album of 2007), appearing at the SXSW, Pop Montreal, Sled Island and CMJ festivals, extensively touring North America and Europe, and being featured prominently on Grey’s Anatomy in 2010, Octoberman continues a bold new chapter built upon the sturdy foundation of Fortresses.
This next chapter begins with the 4 song Sweater EP, which will be available digitally on October 18. A 10-song LP is also set for release in 2012.
wind up bird
Octoberman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The note you left won't ease my mind
Did you leave by your own will?
Were you kidnapped or will you killed?
Down the alley I will walk
Find a young girl I can talk... to
And though she tells me I am wise
We are two peas in a pod
That's why I'm the wind up bird
Don't wind me up
And everything seems so absurd
To the wind up bird
Don't wind me up
Yesterday I went downtown
Found a bench and looked around
And everything seemed so absurd
Strangest things I seen and heard
So I been waiting in the well
Friends of mine don't think I am well
Friends of mine know I'm not well
Will you return? I can't tell
In the meantime this feels like hell
In the meantime you feel like hell
So I am the wind up bird
Don't wind me up
And everything seems so absurd
To the wind up bird
Don't wind me up
Don't wind me up
Don't wind me up
Don't wind me up
Don't wind me up
I been searching for a sign
The song "Wind Up Bird" by Octoberman is a melancholic reflection on the uncertainty and confusion that arises from the absence of a loved one. The singer is struggling to come to terms with the departure of someone close to him and is desperately searching for clues that might shed some light on the situation. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the narrative as the singer expresses his deep longing for a sign that might offer some solace. The note left behind by the departed person has failed to ease his mind and he is left grappling with questions about the circumstances of their departure- were they kidnapped, or worse, killed? These questions are an indication of the singer's state of mind- one of intense anxiety and fear.
The mood of the song is further emphasised in the second verse where the singer describes his encounter with a young girl while walking down an alley. She tells him he is wise but the singer knows that they are both lost souls searching for answers. He likens them to two peas in a pod, united in their shared confusion and despair. This reinforces the sense of isolation and loneliness that pervades the song. In the chorus, the singer declares himself to be the "wind up bird" but begs not to be wound up. This suggests that he is a fragile, vulnerable creature on the brink of breaking.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been searching for a sign
I have been looking for something to give me direction and guidance.
The note you left won't ease my mind
The message you left behind does nothing to soothe my worries and anxieties.
Did you leave by your own will?
I wonder if you voluntarily departed or if something happened to you.
Were you kidnapped or will you killed?
I am questioning if someone took you against your will or if you were met with an unfortunate end.
Down the alley I will walk
I will venture into a hidden or less traveled path.
Find a young girl I can talk... to
I will seek out a youthful woman with whom I can converse.
And though she tells me I am wise
Even if this woman compliments my intelligence,
We are two peas in a pod
we are very alike in nature and behavior.
That's why I'm the wind up bird
I have wound myself up, like a toy bird that requires cranking, to get through the day.
Don't wind me up
Please don't push me to my limits.
And everything seems so absurd
The world around me appears to be ridiculous and nonsensical.
To the wind up bird
I feel like a figurine that is repeatedly turned and manipulated.
Yesterday I went downtown
I ventured into the city yesterday.
Found a bench and looked around
I discovered a seat and surveyed my surroundings.
And everything seemed so absurd
Everything I observed appeared strange and ludicrous.
Strangest things I seen and heard
The events and conversations were the most bizarre I have experienced.
So I been waiting in the well
I feel like I am stuck in an emotional abyss or limbo.
Friends of mine don't think I am well
My acquaintances worry that my mental and emotional health is deteriorating.
Friends of mine know I'm not well
My friends understand that something is not right with me.
Will you return? I can't tell
I am uncertain if you will come back to me.
In the meantime this feels like hell
As I wait for your return, my life feels like a torturous nightmare.
So I am the wind up bird
I continue to function like a mechanical bird that requires winding.
Don't wind me up
Please don't provoke me or make me feel worse than I already do.
Don't wind me up
Please stop agitating me.
Don't wind me up
I am begging you not to push me any further.
Don't wind me up
I implore you to refrain from exacerbating my distress.
Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
funkybioped
That's really cool! Loved the vid. Great song too
RogerAntony Bennett
Nice drumming at 3'+ / lots of ideas in video...
Ashley Cooper
すごい。ーねじまき鳥からインスパイアされたって...そのままじゃん。拍手。