It was in 2008 that singer and songwriter Arleigh Kincheloe said goodbye to her hometown hideaway in the Catskill Mountains and moved to New York City to start Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds. In the years since, the group has performed hundreds of shows, released a series of full-length albums and an EP produced by Randy Jackson (American Idol), and enchanted tastemakers ranging from The Wall Street Journal and LA Times to Glamour, USA Today, and The New Yorker. They have shared the stage with such heavyweights as Gov't Mule, Dr. John, Trombone Shorty, The Avett Brothers, Counting Crows, and Galactic, and have turned audiences into believers through appearances on the festival circuit at Bonnaroo, Firefly, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Voodoo Music Experience and many more.
Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds released its self-titled debut album in November 2010. It was recorded almost completely live in just one night at Avatar Studios in New York City, capturing the uniquely tight-yet-loose live sound they had honed over so many hot city nights. The album was listed as one of the top Non-Jazz Favorites for 2010 by All About Jazz. Independent Media Magazine awarded it the "Best album you probably didn't hear in 2010" in its 2010 IMM Music Awards.
On February 28 they released their second album Pound of Dirt.
In March 2013, the band went into the legendary Henson Recording Studios in LA and recorded an EP with Grammy-award winner and former American Idol judge Randy Jackson. The resulting four song EP, Fight, was recorded in a day and half and later released in October of the same year.
In early 2013, the band announced that three original members, JJ Byars, Johnny Butler, and Aidan Carroll, were leaving to pursue other projects. The band also announced the addition of baritone saxophonist Brian Graham and bassist Josh Myers. In 2014, original members Ryan Snow and Bram Kincheloe also left to pursue other projects.
The third studio album by the band was released on May 18, 2015. It was recorded at Bear Creek Studio in Woodinville, Washington over three weeks in December 2014. The album is produced by Ryan Hadlock, and all songs were written by Arleigh Kincheloe.
The band's first live album was released on March 4, 2016. It was recorded at The Warehouse in Fairfield, Connecticut on December 31, 2015. The album was recorded by Lucas Tecun, mixed by Micah Davis, and mastered by Greg Calbi.
The band released the single, "Ghost," on August 3, 2018, prior to the album, Gold, out October 12, 2018 on Thirty Tigers. The album was produced and co-written in collaboration with Carter Matschullat (Chef'Special, Secret Weapons) at Brooklyn's DØØM Studio.
Who Are You
Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who would've ever thought that it would be our time?
I just know it, 'cause you're the one
It ain't a selfish love, when I'm with you
You remind me of Allah, and so I know it's true
I'll just say it: you are the one
Won't you be my BFF (best friend forever) and ever?
We'll see it, when we believe it together
Dreams are meant to be, 'cause you're the one for me
I never thought that I would ever feel this way
I ask Allah to bless you every single day
I'll just say it, 'cause you're the one
And when times are tough, and we've got the world to see
Standing right beside you is where I want to be
I just know it: you are the one
Won't you be my BFF (best friend forever) and ever?
Won't you be my partner after this world?
We'll see it, when we believe it together
Dreams are meant to be, 'cause you're the one for me
I prayed about this just over a million times
Who would ever thought that I could call you mine?
I just know it, 'cause you're the one
And when there's gray in our hair and we've not much to do
I want to spend the rest of my days with you…
Oh don't you know it?
You are the one, you are the one
Oh won't you be the one?
The lyrics of "Who Are You?" by Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds explore the love and devotion between two individuals who are meant to be together. The singer expresses that they have thought of this love many times before and realizes that their beloved is the one they were meant to be with. The love between the two is selfless and the singer feels that their partner reminds them of Allah, which reinforces their belief that they are meant to be together. The singer asks their partner to be their best friend forever and their partner in the afterlife, and believes that together they can achieve their dreams.
The use of religious imagery is prominent throughout the song. The singer's partner is compared to Allah, which imbues their love with a sense of divinity and purity. This religious imagery also reinforces the idea that their love is selfless and not driven by selfish desires. The lyrics also convey a sense of security and comfort that the singer feels when they are with their partner. They want to spend the rest of their days with their beloved and face the world together.
Overall, "Who Are You?" is a heartfelt declaration of love that is driven by a desire for a deep and meaningful connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought of this before over a million times
I have thought about being with you countless times.
Who would've ever thought that it would be our time?
I never expected us to be together at this moment in time.
I just know it, 'cause you're the one
I am confident that you are the one for me.
It ain't a selfish love, when I'm with you
Our love is not selfish when we are together.
You remind me of Allah, and so I know it's true
Your presence reminds me of Allah, which makes me certain of our love.
I'll just say it: you are the one
I will just come out and say it, you are the one I want to spend my life with.
Won't you be my BFF (best friend forever) and ever?
Will you be my best friend and partner forever?
Won't you be my partner after this world?
Will you be my partner even after this life on Earth?
We'll see it, when we believe it together
We will achieve our dreams by believing in them together.
Dreams are meant to be, 'cause you're the one for me
Our dreams will come true because you are the one for me.
I never thought that I would ever feel this way
I never expected to feel this way about someone.
I ask Allah to bless you every single day
I pray for Allah's blessings upon you every single day.
And when times are tough, and we've got the world to see
During difficult times, when we have the whole world in front of us,
Standing right beside you is where I want to be
I want to stand beside you through it all.
I just know it: you are the one
I am certain that you are the one for me.
I prayed about this just over a million times
I have prayed about being with you countless times.
Who would ever thought that I could call you mine?
Who would have thought that you would become mine?
And when there's gray in our hair and we've not much to do
Even in old age when we have little to do,
I want to spend the rest of my days with you…
I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Oh don't you know it?
Do you not know that you are the one?
You are the one, you are the one
You are the one for me.
Oh won't you be the one?
Will you not be the one for me?
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alski ski
awsome band!!im really starting to fall in love with her voice and the funky sound they have
William Perry
saw them at this past Vibes fest. Dug 'em enough to buy their album--which say A LOT since my collection is SO HUGE I don't give enough attention to what I have
Anthony Stephenson
God they are so good!
John Ambers
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!