Radio Birdman formed in 1974 and began recording in 1976 when the single Burn My Eye was released. They took their name from a misheard lyric in The Stooges song, 1970. (The actual line is "Radio burnin'") Their first LP, "Radios Appear" showed diverse influences, including Blue Öyster Cult and Detroit bands of the late 1960s, such as The MC5 and The Stooges. The album was totally ignored by commercial radio but was championed by Sydney station 2JJ (Double Jay) and became sufficiently successful in Australia to lead to a contract with Sire Records (US label, home of The Ramones), who released a different version of Radios Appear internationally. It took three years to record a follow-up, Living Eyes, and by then, the Australian punk scene had diversified and the band broke up before the LP was released in 1978.
The band's lyrics reference US-born guitarist/main songwriter Deniz Tek's home state of Michigan, with lyrics from tracks such as "Murder City Nights" referring to Woodward Avenue in Detroit:
"Cruising down Woodward gotta find me some action/Looking for a lover with a power reaction."
Many of their other songs, such as "Hand Of Law" & "Descent Into The Maelstrom" deal in apocalyptic images of war and violence, but these are more than balanced by the lighter pop culture references of tunes such as "Aloha Steve & Danno", an ode to the TV show Hawaii 5-0. "Man With Golden Helmet" (which Tek wrote in high school) is one of their most cryptic efforts: "Man with golden helmet/drinks water from the faucet..plays with tiny children/on his way home from work...he's a top man/in the language department". Deniz Tek wrote most of the lyrics and music for the band
All members went on to other bands. Younger's New Christs would be more oriented towards hard-edged, blues-based rock and roll. Tek and Keeley and keyboardist Pip Hoyle's band, The Visitors, and guitarist Chris Masuak and bass guitarist Warwick Gilbert's The Hitmen continued the Radio Birdman sound. Tek, Younger & Gilbert played in a one-shot touring band called New Race, with Dennis Thompson of the MC5 & Ron Asheton of the Stooges.
In the 1996, the band reformed sporadically to play gigs, but a full-fledged reunion didn't surface until the 00's, with the 2006 album Zeno Beach being enthusiastically received. The band split once again in 2008.
In 2014, the band announced that Younger, Tek, Hoyle and Dickson announced that they would tour Australia as Radio Birdman to coincide with the reissue of their back catalogue.
Breaks My Heart
Radio Birdman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did she forget you is this a whole new age
Three years was like forever deep in exile
Three months was just one day
It breaks my heart
When I remember that cruel night
Rain falling down on the street outside
And where you are it's nighttime
I hope it keeps raining all day long
'Cause misery is mine
It breaks my heart
When I remember that cruel night
Cross of iron, spirit within remembers
40 below in mid December
Radio disc looking up to the sky
Trying to understand the unknown sender
It breaks my heart
When I remember that cruel night
I still love you (ad lib)
The lyrics of Radio Birdman's song "Breaks My Heart" contemplate the pain of lost love and separation. The opening lines reveal a sense of uncertainty and confusion, as the singer poses the question of whether the absence of communication is intentional or not. The passage of time is also explored, where three years spent in exile felt like an eternity, while three months without communication stretched out into a single day. These lines are possibly reflective of a relationship that was once strong but distance and the lack of communication has led to the decay of feelings.
The chorus of the song embodies the hurt and sorrow that the singer feels, as he recalls the memory of a particularly cruel night where rain fell heavily outside. The phrase "and where you are, it's nighttime" suggests that the singer and his lover are in different time zones, possibly in different parts of the world. The singer also notes that he hopes it continues to rain, as misery seems to be all he has left. The pain of heartbreak and separation clearly still lingers, and the singer struggles to come to terms with it.
The verses that follow contain enigmatic lines that hint at a possibly darker event or circumstance. The lines "cross of iron, spirit within remembers, 40 below in mid-December" could be interpreted as a reference to a traumatic experience - perhaps a fight or a decision that led to their separation. The singer also mentions "radio disc looking up to the sky, trying to understand the unknown sender," which could suggest a desire to make sense of the situation, even if clarity and closure may never come.
Overall, "Breaks My Heart" is a heartfelt and melancholic reflection on love and loss. The song's introspective lyrics invite listeners into the confusing and painful emotions that heartbreak can cause.
Line by Line Meaning
Did she forget to write or she just had nothing to say
Wondering if she missed sending a message or if she simply chose not to communicate
Did she forget you is this a whole new age
Questioning if she intentionally disregarded him or if times have changed too much
Three years was like forever deep in exile
Being in a state of isolation for three years felt like an eternity
Three months was just one day
Time passed too quickly without her presence around
It breaks my heart
The thoughts of what happened cause unbearable emotional pain
When I remember that cruel night
Thinking back to the harsh and difficult experience
Rain falling down on the street outside
The weather set the sad mood of that night
And where you are it's nighttime
Feeling extra lonely since it is nighttime where she is too
I hope it keeps raining all day long
Wishing for more bad weather to match the feelings of misery
'Cause misery is mine
Feeling like he only owns the unpleasant emotions
Cross of iron, spirit within remembers
Recalling a past difficult situation that was challenging to overcome
40 below in mid December
A moment that was particularly cold and difficult to manage
Radio disc looking up to the sky
Turning to music for comfort and guidance
Trying to understand the unknown sender
Looking for clarity and answers from an unknown source
I still love you (ad lib)
Having lingering feelings of love, despite the pain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENIZ TEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PeteMemes
Favourite Radio Birdman song. Chris Musuak's guitar breaks are gold.
PeteMemes
@The Man from Epsilon Crucis , one of the greats
The Man from Epsilon Crucis
He got even better after he joined The Screaming Tribesmen. Their best album was Bones and Flowers IMO.