And Your Bird Can Sing
The Beatles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell me that you've got everything you want
And your bird can sing
But you don't get me
You don't get me

You say you've seen seven wonders
And you bird is green
But you can't see me
You can't see me

When your prized possessions
Start to weigh you down
Look in my direction
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round

When your bird is broken
Will it bring you down?
You may be awoken
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round

You tell me that you've heard every sound there is
And your bird can swing




But you can't hear me
You can't hear me

Overall Meaning

The Beatles’ song “And Your Bird Can Sing” begins with the singer telling an unnamed person that they have everything they could want. The line “And your bird can sing” is a reference to the person’s pet bird that can happily chirp away while everything else is in order. However, despite this, the singer insists that the person still doesn’t understand them. The next verse speaks to the person’s sense of adventure and history - saying that they have seen seven wonders and have a green bird, yet still cannot truly see or understand the singer.


The chorus suggests that when the person becomes weighed down by their possessions, the singer will be there for them. When their bird - a symbol of their comfort and stability - is “broken,” the person may be woken up to the fact that they need the love and support of another person. However, at the same time, the singer insists that the person is still unable to hear them - despite claiming to have heard every sound and genre there is.


Overall, the song presents a theme of isolation and loneliness despite surface-level happiness and success. The singer longs for deeper understanding and connection with the other person, yet feels as though they are unable to be truly seen or heard.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me that you've got everything you want
You boast about having everything you want.


And your bird can sing
You have something to show for it.


But you don't get me
But you don't understand me.


You don't get me
You don't understand me.


You say you've seen seven wonders
You have experienced amazing things.


And you bird is green
And you have accomplished something impressive.


But you can't see me
But you can't understand me.


You can't see me
You can't understand me.


When your prized possessions
When your prized possessions


Start to weigh you down
Become a burden


Look in my direction
Turn to me for support.


I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
I'll be there for you.


When your bird is broken
When everything you've accomplished has fallen apart.


Will it bring you down?
Will it affect your mood?


You may be awoken
You may realize something.


I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
I'll be there for you.


You tell me that you’ve heard every sound there is
You have experienced many things.


And your bird can swing
And you are proud of your accomplishments.


But you can't hear me
But you can't understand me.


You can't hear me
You can't understand me.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@SPKBLUE

Tell me that you've got everything you want
And your bird can sing
But you don't get me
You don't get me
You'll say you've seen seven wonders
And your bird is green
But you can't see me
You can't see me
When your prized possessions start to weigh you down
Look in my direction
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
When your bird is broken, will it bring you down?
You may be awoken
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
You tell me that you heard every sound there is
And your bird can swing
But you can't hear me
You can't hear me



All comments from YouTube:

@littledrumminboy5779

That harmony on "You tell me that you've heard every sound there is"...
Chills.

@lisannbart

Just John's voice on this album gives me chills

@DSJVIDEO

...and Paul's decision to play the descending bass line there (instead of the poppy hook he'd been doing on the previous verses)...his instinct is on another level- most magical bassist in the history of popular music.

@jaredf6205

I love the contrast with the earlier verses, It’s awesome to see other people appreciate that part too. It’s probably my favorite 3 seconds of The Beatles.

@Infaziation

Always been my favourite moment in any Beatles song!

@pauldoan180

Thank you for posting your feelings about that part I feel that way also 1st time I've heard anyone say that .

24 More Replies...

@DSRQ1

No one writes a better 2 minute rock/pop song than Lennon.

@middarklight

AMEN

@terryshoemaker5393

And no one sings it better

@georgemcconville849

Lennon did not write it.

More Comments

More Versions