The Fiery Furnaces signed with the Rough Trade Records music label in 2002, and recorded their debut album in the same year.
Gallowsbird's Bark, released in the autumn of 2003, garnered critical praise for its clever wordplay and original songwriting.
Anybody who thought they had the band pinned at that point was quickly proven wrong with the 2004 release Blueberry Boat, a rock-operatic album whose track lengths were often six minutes long or longer.
While some critics adored the album for its vast complexity, others found it all a little too overwhelming.
After releasing EP in 2005 (considered a full-length album because of its 41 minute play time, but is "officially" an EP) the band then released two further albums - Rehearsing My Choir (2005), a radio-dramaesque concept album about the Friedbergers' Greek grandmother; and Bitter Tea (2006), which is a comparably more conventional album built on still-bent song structures, but with more pop-oriented stylings.
In October 2007 the band released their fifth full-length album, Widow City.
Trivia
- Their name is both a reference to the film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)" and to the book of Daniel in the Bible.
- Matthew Friedberger has also released two solo albums simultaneously.
- Eleanor Friedberger is rumoured to be in a relationship with Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, because the song "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" from their second album is about her.
- Due to the garage blues elements of the band’s sound and the fact that the band members are siblings, The Fiery Furnaces was often compared by the press to The White Stripes (The White Stripes sometimes promote themselves as siblings, though they are not).
Official Website: www.thefieryfurnaces.com
Birdie Brain
The Fiery Furnaces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That sends my spaniel insane.
And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle,
I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown.
I've been told the Bronx River stream on moonlit nights is meant
To seem like the Rhone in a glacier icy dream but then in a poof t's sulfur steam.
I hate the aeroplane that nearly misses my birdie brain,
And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle,
I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown.
I was drinking by the Des Plaines River when the naught of night
Served for making me shiver and me the squirrels would hold hands
And quiver cause that damnable diesel never fails to deliver.
I hate the livery cars that have my bird brain seeing stars,
That drive my Doberman to drink in bars.
And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle,
I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown.
I hate the steam train that whistles woozy my bird brain,
That sends my spaniel insane.
And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle,
I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my dressing gown.
The lyrics of "Birdie Brain" by The Fiery Furnaces convey the singer's annoyance and frustration with various modes of transportation that disrupt their peace of mind and that of their pets. The song opens with a reference to a steam train whistle that "whistles woozy" and disturbs the singer's "bird brain," causing their dog to go crazy. The singer threatens to switch from their usual mode of riding "side saddle" if the noise doesn't stop, to the point of jumping into the dangerous undertow and drowning in their wedding or dressing gown.
The lyrics then move on to a description of the Bronx River's moonlit beauty, but this peace is quickly shattered by the sound of an airplane terrifying the singer's terrier. They again vow to stop riding side saddle if the noise persists. The song continues with the singer's hatred for livery cars and their impact on their bird brain and Doberman. The repetition of the chorus showcases the singer's increasing frustration and anger at the noise pollution around them.
Overall, "Birdie Brain" highlights the impact of external disturbances on one's mental and emotional state, as well as that of their pets. The use of unconventional metaphors and wordplay adds to the song's quirky and unique charm.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate the steam train that whistles woozy my bird brain,
I strongly dislike the steam train that makes my mind dizzy and confused, like a bird's brain, and causes my dog to go crazy.
That sends my spaniel insane.
The train's whistle is so loud and unsettling that it drives my spaniel crazy.
And I'll stop riding side saddle if they don't stop the clickity clattle,
If the train doesn't stop making its loud rattling sound, I will no longer ride my horse in a side saddle position.
I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown.
I would rather jump into the strong current and swim like a penguin, ultimately drowning in my wedding gown, than continue to endure the noise of the steam train.
I've been told the Bronx River stream on moonlit nights is meant
I have heard that the Bronx River looks beautiful and serene on moonlit nights.
To seem like the Rhone in a glacier icy dream but then in a poof t's sulfur steam.
It is said to resemble the Rhone River in a dreamy, icy state, but then the sulfuric steam from the train takes away from the beauty.
I hate the aeroplane that nearly misses my birdie brain,
I also dislike airplanes that fly close to my head and make me feel like a vulnerable bird.
That terrifies my terrier insane.
The noise and sight of the plane are so scary that it drives my terrier crazy.
I was drinking by the Des Plaines River when the naught of night
One evening, I was drinking by the Des Plaines River when the night was blanketed in naught and darkness.
Served for making me shiver and me the squirrels would hold hands
The chilly night made me shiver, and even the squirrels were reaching out for comfort by holding hands.
And quiver cause that damnable diesel never fails to deliver.
The diesel engine noise is so annoying that it always makes me shake with anger and frustration.
I hate the livery cars that have my bird brain seeing stars,
In addition, I hate the livery cars that make me feel dizzy and confused, like a bird, and see stars.
That drive my Doberman to drink in bars.
The cars are so unsettling that they even drive my Doberman to drink in bars to calm their nerves.
I'll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown.
Just like with the steam train, I would rather jump into the current and swim like a penguin, ultimately drowning in my wedding gown, than endure the noise of the livery cars.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MATTHEW FRIEDBERGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind