They began writing and recording their own music in 1956, and their first hit song came in 1957, with "Bye Bye Love", written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The song hit No. 1 in the spring of 1957, and additional hits would follow through 1958, many of them written by the Bryants, including "Wake Up Little Susie", "All I Have to Do Is Dream", and "Problems". In 1960, they signed with the major label Warner Bros. Records and recorded "Cathy's Clown", written by the brothers themselves, which was their biggest selling single. The brothers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, and their output dropped off, though additional hit singles continued through 1962, with "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)" being their last top-10 hit.
Long-simmering disputes with Wesley Rose, the CEO of Acuff-Rose Music, which managed the group, a growing drug usage in the 1960s, as well as changing tastes in popular music, led to the group's decline in popularity in its native U.S., though the brothers continued to release hit singles in the U.K. and Canada, and had many highly successful tours throughout the 1960s. In the early 1970s, the brothers began releasing solo recordings, and in 1973 they officially broke up. Starting in 1983, the brothers got back together, and would continue to perform periodically until Phil's death in 2014. Don died seven years later.
The group was highly influential on the music of the generation that followed it. Many of the top acts of the 1960s were heavily influenced by the close-harmony singing and acoustic guitar playing of the Everly Brothers, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everly Brothers No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 1986, and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Don was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019, earning the organization's first Iconic Riff Award for his distinctive rhythm guitar intro to the Everlys' massive 1957 hit "Wake Up Little Susie".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Everly_Brothers
Bird Dog
The Everly Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A very funny joker (he's a bird)
But when he jokes my honey (he's a dog)
His jokin' ain't so funny (what a dog)
Johnny is a joker that's a'tryin' to steal my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny sings a love song (like a bird)
Sings the sweetest love song (ya ever heard)
To me he's just a wolf dog (on the prowl)
Johnny wants to fly away and puppy-love my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
Johnny kissed the teacher (he's a bird)
He tiptoed up to reach her (he's a bird)
Well he's the teacher's pet now (he's a dog)
What he wants he's been gettin' now (what a dog)
He even made the teacher let him sit next to my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
He's a bird
Oh, he's a bird
The Everly Brothers' "Bird Dog" is a playful and humorous song about a joker named Johnny who tries to steal the singer's girlfriend. Johnny is seen as a "bird" and a "wolf dog" in the song, depending on whether the singer is amused or annoyed by his antics. The chorus repeatedly tells Johnny, the bird dog, to stay away from the singer's girlfriend, calling her his "quail," "lovey-dove," and "chick." The lyrics suggest that Johnny is a bit of a troublemaker, flirting with the teacher and always looking for a new girl to pursue.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny is a joker (he's a bird)
Johnny is a playful, lighthearted person, always laughing and singing.
A very funny joker (he's a bird)
Johnny is exceptionally amusing, making everyone around him laugh.
But when he jokes my honey (he's a dog)
However, when Johnny flirts with my girlfriend, he is being sneaky and dishonest.
His jokin' ain't so funny (what a dog)
Johnny's attempts at humor are not as funny when it comes to trying to steal someone else's partner.
Johnny is a joker that's a'tryin' to steal my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny is a sly, untrustworthy person who is actively trying to take my girlfriend away from me, like a bird dog hunting for prey.
Johnny sings a love song (like a bird)
Johnny is a gifted singer who can hit high notes like a bird.
Sings the sweetest love song (ya ever heard)
Johnny's love songs are especially charming, likely to melt anyone's heart.
But when he sings to my gal (what a howl)
However, when Johnny serenades my girlfriend, it sounds more like a loud, unsettling howl to me.
To me he's just a wolf dog (on the prowl)
Johnny appears to be more of a predatory wolf dog as he tries to seduce my girlfriend.
Johnny wants to fly away and puppy-love my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny's true intention is to fly away with my girlfriend and pursue a puppy-love relationship with her, just like a bird dog chasing after his target.
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
I'm warning you, Johnny the bird dog, to stay away from my girlfriend.
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Johnny, you are barking up the wrong tree trying to steal my girlfriend.
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Johnny, I'm telling you one more time to stay away from my girlfriend, who is my lovey-dove.
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Once again, I'm warning you, Johnny the bird dog, to back off from my girlfriend.
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
I'm serious, Johnny, you better run away quickly before I get angry with you.
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
Johnny, you should find someone else to pursue, someone who is not already taken, like a 'chicken little'.
Johnny kissed the teacher (he's a bird)
Johnny kissed the teacher, showing his audacity and recklessness.
He tiptoed up to reach her (he's a bird)
Johnny was quite sneaky, trying to steal a kiss from the teacher by tiptoeing up to her.
Well he's the teacher's pet now (he's a dog)
Now, Johnny has gained favor with the teacher, likely by being charming and flirty with her, earning the nickname 'teacher's pet'.
What he wants he's been gettin' now (what a dog)
Johnny is getting what he wants through manipulation and flattery, acting like a real 'dog'.
He even made the teacher let him sit next to my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny was able to convince the teacher to let him sit next to my girlfriend, further pursuing his desire to steal her away from me, like a bird dog chasing after its prey.
He's a bird
Johnny is lively and flirtatious, having a free spirit like a bird.
Oh, he's a bird
In singing this line, the singer is emphasizing that Johnny is particularly bird-like in his behavior and mannerisms.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Bain
My Top 15 Everly Brothers Songs
15. Let It Be Me
14. All I Have To Do Is Dream
13. Till I Kissed You
12. When Will I Be Loved
11. Claudette
10. Cathy's Clown
9. Lucille
8. Ebony Eyes
7. Crying In The Rain
6. Bye Bye Love
5. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
4. Wake Up Little Susie
3. Bird Dog
2. Devoted To You
1. Walk Right Back
Richard Bain
My 15 Favorite Everly Brothers Songs
15. Problems
14. Love Hurts
13. Let It Be Me
12. Poor Jenny
11 All I Have To Do Is Dream
10. Claudette
9. Bye Bye Love
8. Wake Up Little Susie
7. When Will I Be Loved
6. Lucille
5. Cathy's Clown
4. Bird Dog
3. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
2. Crying In The Rain
1. Walk Right Back
gabigirl1972
Johnny is a joker (he's a bird)
A very funny joker (he's a bird)
But when he jokes my honey (he's a dog)
His jokin' ain't so funny (what a dog)
Johnny is a joker that's a-tryin' to steal my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny sings a love song (like a bird)
He sings the sweetest love song (ya ever heard)
But when he sings to my gal (what a howl)
To me he's just a wolf dog (on the prowl)
Johnny wants to fly away and puppy-love my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog, get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog, you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
Johnny kissed the teacher (he's a bird)
He tiptoed up to reach her (he's a bird)
Well he's the teachers pet now (he's a dog)
What he wants he can get now (what a dog)
He even made the teacher let him sit next to my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
He's bird……
jmtilson
Love this song and had to introduce my 28 year old daughter to it this morning. I’ve done a great job raising her on the classics, but somehow this one was missed. She loved it too!! ❤️
Walter Dennon
You've don't raised her on the classics. Maybe you shoulda did.
Viola Pressley
This song cracks me up, I swear. I can't stop laughing. I love it. So funny. I love having fun with music too.
Bluesish
Like a Bird
Vicky Hyde
Hahaha hahaha yeah true lol
MichiganJack
I love this song. My dad would always place this for me at his bar. Heading to Amazon to buy me a Everly Bros., album.
PSW47
Loved the Everlys and their songs. Good memories
Bert Anthony
Good
jimmy page
Love that guitar riff in the beginning, it really rocks
Alan Sévellec
It reminds a lot the riff in B.Holly Slippin'n'sliddin.