Colvin's formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age of 10. Her first public concert was at age 15 at the University of Illinois campus. Colvin cites Joni Mitchell as a primary influence on her music, and her initial performances closely mirrored Mitchell's inflections and guitar tunings.
Colvin began working in the music scene in earnest in the late 1970s, first in Austin, Texas and then nationally. She met music partner John Leventhal during this time; Leventhal would go on to be Colvin's producer on several albums. Colvin often lends her talent to contemporaries in the music business - she can be heard singing the backing vocals on the Suzanne Vega hit, "Luka" from 1987. Vega returned the favor, singing backup on Colvin's, "Diamond In The Rough", from her debut album, "Steady On". Colvin, again can be heard singing backing vocals on Mary Chapin Carpenter's, "The Hard Way" and "Come On Come On" and Mary Chapin returns the favor on Colvin's, "Climb On (A Back That's Strong)", from Colvin's "Fat City" album.
Colvin's first several albums were met with critical acclaim, but did not sell in substantial numbers. After several albums of original work, Colvin released "Cover Girl", a collection of cover songs, but the work was a departure for her and was not well received.
Colvin experienced breakthrough success with "A Few Small Repairs" in October of 1996. The single "Sunny Came Home" reached the US Top Ten, and won Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year. She has released several subsequent albums that were nominated for Grammys, and has also released a greatest-hits album and a collection of Christmas music.
A new album from Colvin, entitled "These Four Walls", was released on September 12, 2006.
She was the guest vocal artist on the Lisa Loeb single "Falling in Love" as well as appearing at various Lilith Fair music festivals. She also has been featured on the popular live music show Austin City Limits and played at the 2003 Austin City Limits Music Festival. She also appeared in a tribute to her idol Joni Mitchell in 2001 that was broadcast on the cable network TNT.
She has made two guest appearances on The Simpsons as Rachel Jordan, lead singer for a Christian rock band. She first appears in "Alone Again, Natura-diddly," where Rachel wins Ned Flanders' heart after the untimely death of his wife, Maude. Later, in the episode "I'm Going to Praiseland," Ned dates Rachel, only to scare her off when he tries to turn her into a version of Maude.
Colvin lives with her daughter, Caledonia, and husband, Mario Erwin in Austin, Texas, and still participates in the Austin music scene.
The Bird
Shawn Colvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I see all the pretty snow,
And I dream that dream I dream no matter where I go,
We were still young like when we met,
And I hadn't fucked it all up yet,
And you wanted me to be with you like before,
What I like about time is it don't ask why,
What I like about love is it makes me cry,
And I know you tried to tell me then,
No one could bear the shit I put on them,
And I guess you wonder why you even let me in,
Well so do I,
And in my dream I never make you pay,
For all the things you did and did not say,
I was ready to be good to you,
And make you stay,
And you took me to the carnival town,
And we rode the rides up and down,
And we watched the birds watch us smile,
And then they flew away,
What I like about time is it don't ask why,
What I like about love is it makes me cry,
What I like about the bird is she don't need nothing but sky,
And I know you think my life's a crime,
And you talk about it to your wife sometimes,
You all shake your heads and sigh,
Oh believe me I shake mine
"The Bird" is a beautiful and haunting song, filled with a sense of longing and nostalgia. The lyrics speak of the singer's desire to turn back the clock and relive a previous, happier time, when he and his lover were still young and in love. The imagery of the mountain and the pretty snow add to the sense of yearning, as does the dream that the singer keeps having, where everything is as it once was.
The song is also rich with metaphorical language. The bird is a symbol of freedom and simplicity - unlike the complex and messy human relationships that the singer is struggling with. The idea that the bird needs nothing but the sky speaks to the singer's longing for simplicity and escape from the burdens of his own life.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with his own shortcomings and the ways in which he has hurt the people he loves. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and that he has difficultly owning up to them. The carnival town is the one moment where everything seems right, where the singer and his lover are able to let go of their troubles and simply enjoy each other's company. But even this moment is fleeting and bittersweet, as they watch the birds fly away.
Overall, "The Bird" is a powerful exploration of love, regret, and the ways in which we try to hold onto what we have lost.
Line by Line Meaning
I might go to the mountain to spy,
Contemplating going to a mountain top to observe.
And I see all the pretty snow,
Noticing the beautiful snow scenery.
And I dream that dream I dream no matter where I go,
Daydreaming about something that always remains constant regardless of location.
We were still young like when we met,
Remembering the early stages of a relationship when both were still young.
And I hadn't fucked it all up yet,
Regretting past mistakes that may have damaged the relationship.
And you wanted me to be with you like before,
Recalling a past time when the other person desired to continue the relationship.
What I like about time is it don't ask why,
Appreciating time's lack of inquisition.
What I like about love is it makes me cry,
Finding beauty in the emotional release of crying resulting from love.
What I like about the bird is she don't need nothing but sky,
Admiring the bird's independence in needing nothing but the open sky.
And I know you tried to tell me then,
Recognizing that the other person offered advice at a past time.
No one could bear the shit I put on them,
Acknowledging that no one would want to endure one's negative behavior.
And I guess you wonder why you even let me in,
Realizing that the other person may question why they let oneself in.
Well so do I,
Sharing the same thought.
And in my dream I never make you pay,
In one's dreams, seeking to not hold the other person accountable for their mistakes and failures.
For all the things you did and did not say,
Forgiving the other person for both their actions and words left unsaid.
I was ready to be good to you,
Willingness to be kind to the other person.
And make you stay,
Desire to keep the other person by one's side.
And you took me to the carnival town,
Going to a carnival with the other person.
And we rode the rides up and down,
Enjoying the carnival rides with the other person.
And we watched the birds watch us smile,
Observing the birds observing humanity's joy.
And then they flew away,
The birds flew away.
And I know you think my life's a crime,
Understanding the other person's negative perception of oneself's life.
And you talk about it to your wife sometimes,
The other person discussing it with their wife on occasion.
You all shake your heads and sigh,
All of them sighing in disappointment.
Oh believe me I shake mine
Likewise reacting with disappointment.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LEVENTHAL, SHAWN COLVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thang Leminh
on I Don't Know Why
....but I do !