Singing in the local church choirs as a boy, studying jazz and classical piano performance, composition, and arrangement, and singing and playing keyboards in the ska band Gangster Politics in high school. Watson left the band after graduating and began to explore other types of music, including electronica and ambient. In 2002, after returning from a trip to Vietnam, he decided to start a four-piece chamber pop group, bringing in bassist Mishka Stein, drummer Robbie Kuster (both of whom he had met at university), and former Gangster Politics guitarist Simon Angell. The group (which was technically a solo project with a backing band) released Just Another Ordinary Day (2003) independently.
In 2001 Watson released his first own solo debut, Waterproof9 and in 2006 his second, Close to Paradise. Early in 2007, Watson was nominated for a Juno Canada's music award in the New Artist of the Year category.
His band's song "The Great Escape" was featured on a third-season episode of Grey's Anatomy.
He co-wrote and performed on several songs on The Cinematic Orchestra's 2007 album Ma Fleur including the opening track "To Build a Home". His "Missing You" remix of Champion's "Guy Doune", from Champion's 2006 album The Remix Album, reached #1 on CBC Radio 3's R3-30 chart in early 2007.
Patrick Watson (the band) also won the prestigeous Polaris Music Prize (Canada) in 2007.
Website: www.patrickwatson.net
Big Bird in a Small Cage
Patrick Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I was invited in for a small taste of gin
There was a hallway a thousand birds long
But the biggest one of all was in a cage too small
I asked the caretaker 'cuz he was their maker
He looked at me and laughed took another sip from his glass
He said 'Open up your ears and hearts
You put a big bird in a small cage and he'll sing you a song'
That we all love to sing along
To the sound of the bird that mourns
Well we rolled into town and the sweet New Orleans
To the Apple Barrel bar it was a hole in the wall
The ceiling weren't tall and the floors filled with grime
But the sound that you would make would just warm their hearts
Well it was quarter to 12 and the boys walked in
They got their black suits on and the songs would begin
You open up your ears and hearts
You put a big bird in a small cage and it'll sing you a song
That we all love to sing along
To the sound of the bird that mourns
You put a big bird in a small cage and it will sing you a song
In the song "Big Bird in a Small Cage" by Patrick Watson, the lyrics paint a vivid story of the singer's travels around the world and his experience in a large house where he encounters a caretaker and a big bird, but alas, the bird was in a cage that was too small. The lyrics explore the themes of captivity, loneliness and struggle, and how sometimes one can feel trapped in a small or confined space, unable to spread their wings and fly. The metaphor of the bird in the small cage conveys a deeper message of how one's potential can be limited, and how freedom is crucial for creativity and self-expression.
The song begins with the singer reminiscing about a house he visited halfway across the world, where he was invited in for a small taste of gin. While he walks down a hallway that is thousand birds long, he reaches the cage of the biggest bird of all, which he finds too small. When he asks the caretaker why the big bird is in such a small cage, the caretaker laughs and retorts, "You put a big bird in a small cage and he'll sing you a song that we all love to sing along". The chorus emphasizes that even though the bird is in confinement and is mourning, the song it sings is still beautiful and soothing to the soul.
The second verse takes us to the Apple Barrel bar in New Orleans, where the singer observes that the place is not fancy, but the songs that are played have the power to warm the hearts of the patrons. The verse concludes with the reiteration of the chorus, emphasizing the significance of the bird in the cage singing a song that connects with the human spirit. Moreover, the chorus acts as a reminder that even though life can restrict one's potential and dreams, the resilience of the human spirit can overcome it all.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a house halfway round the world
I came across a distant house while traveling.
And I was invited in for a small taste of gin
I was welcomed in and offered a small amount of gin to drink.
There was a hallway a thousand birds long
A long hallway was filled with a thousand birds.
But the biggest one of all was in a cage too small
The largest bird was confined in a cage that was too small.
I asked the caretaker 'cuz he was their maker
I inquired with the person who created the birds since he was the caretaker.
He looked at me and laughed took another sip from his glass
He chuckled, then took another sip of his drink.
He said 'Open up your ears and hearts
He advised me to be receptive and attentive.
You put a big bird in a small cage and he'll sing you a song'
By confining a large bird, it will sing a song to please the captor.
That we all love to sing along
We enjoy singing the song the bird performs.
To the sound of the bird that mourns
We sing to the tune of the bird's lament.
Well we rolled into town and the sweet New Orleans
We arrived at the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.
To the Apple Barrel bar it was a hole in the wall
The Apple Barrel bar was a small, low-key establishment.
The ceiling weren't tall and the floors filled with grime
The ceiling was low and the floors were dirty.
But the sound that you would make would just warm their hearts
The music we played brought joy to the patrons of the bar.
Well it was quarter to 12 and the boys walked in
It was almost midnight when our companions joined us at the bar.
They got their black suits on and the songs would begin
They were dressed in black suits and started to play music.
You put a big bird in a small cage and it'll sing you a song
By confining a large bird, it will sing a song to please the captor.
That we all love to sing along
We enjoy singing the song the bird performs.
To the sound of the bird that mourns
We sing to the tune of the bird's lament.
You put a big bird in a small cage and it will sing you a song
By confining a large bird, it will sing a song to please the captor.
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.