Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)
Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.
The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.
Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.
Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.
Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)
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The Bird
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's your mother who cries
That bird watches and sings
That magic bird luck will you bring
So here only hatred you know
With greasy perverts sink so low
Only drugs and on the game
Though all around wished you harm
That bird is your good luck charm
And as you sit beside her grave
Your life now so depraved
The pain of loss, ladies and gentlemen. The endless hours of suffering, mourning the one good thing in my life. Sure, my mother may have been a whore. But she wanted something better for her daughter. She had dreams of me being a checkout receptionist in a hotel. Or a shop assistant in a chemist's. But now, there's only the ache of loss. So I go and sit by her grave, with only that bird as company. And I cry me a river. And sometimes that bird sings. I think, maybe she's my mama. Re-incarcerated, boys and girls! Because, even though they say I'm a filthy crack whore, I have a spiritual side. And I was talking to one of the girls on the street. And we were talking about re-incarceration. Foxings told me she didn't believe in death. Life just carries on in different forms. So who knows, ladies and gentlemen? Maybe this bird is my mother, re-incarcerated!
Your life wasted on your back
Your only joy now is crack
Well up in Heaven she does wait
So never let your heart break
An angel disguised as a bird
Will listen to her every word
So Sinderella's heart won't break
Happiness in Heaven waits
The bird that sings from up above
She's the one who does you love
Well, when this life has been consumed
A crack whore you feel doomed
I don't know what it all means, ladies and gentlemen. Do we go to Heaven? Fall into the flames of Hell? Or are we all re-incarcerated? I don't know, boys and girls. But I do know something. It all means jack shit when you're in pain.
This world is cruel, this world is bad
In Crackwhore Hell, life is sad
The bird that sings from up above
She's the one who does you love
Then down that bird, that bird will fly
Take you to Heaven in the sky
Sinderella, crack whore
Your mother you does adore
When that bird sings in the sky
It's your mother who cries
The Tiger Lillies' song "The Bird" is a heart-wrenching ballad that tells the story of a woman, presumably a prostitute, who has lost her mother. The bird referenced in the song is believed to be a symbolic representation of the woman's mother. The lyrics suggest that the bird watches over the woman, sings to her, and provides her with good luck despite the turmoil that surrounds her. The woman's only solace is in the fact that her mother is somewhere out there, watching over her.
The song paints a vivid picture of the woman's hopeless and depraved life, filled with despair, sorrow, and misery. She is a crack whore who has wasted her life on drugs and sex work, while the only thing that brings her any joy is the feeling of the crack cocaine coursing through her veins. She constantly struggles with shame and guilt, staring blankly at her mother's grave while crying her heart out.
The song's central theme is the pain of losing a loved one and the hopelessness that comes with it. It is a poignant reminder that loss is an inevitable part of life and that we must find the strength to carry on, even when it seems impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
When that bird sings in the sky
The sound of the bird in the sky represents the pain and sorrow of losing one's mother
It's your mother who cries
The bird's cry represents the cry of the singer's mother who is looking after them from heaven
That bird watches and sings
The bird is always present, watching over the singer and providing comfort through its song
That magic bird luck will you bring
The bird is seen as a sign of good luck and fortune for the artist
So here only hatred you know
The artist's life is characterized by hatred and disgust towards their circumstances
With greasy perverts sink so low
The people the singer interacts with are those who are morally corrupt and depraved
Only drugs and on the game
The only source of income for the singer is prostitution and drug use
Each moment you feel shame
The artist is filled with a constant sense of shame and guilt for their actions and circumstances
Though all around wished you harm
The artist is surrounded by people who wish them harm and are unsupportive of their struggles
That bird is your good luck charm
The bird serves as a symbol of hope and good fortune for the artist, despite their bleak circumstances
And as you sit beside her grave
The singer visits their mother's grave to mourn her loss and seek comfort
Your life now so depraved
The artist's life is characterized by depravity and bleakness, without any hope for a better future
Your life wasted on your back
The singer's life is consumed by prostitution, which has robbed them of any other opportunities or joys
Your only joy now is crack
The singer finds their only happiness in drug use, which provides temporary relief from their suffering
Well up in Heaven she does wait
The singer believes that their mother is waiting for them in heaven, serving as a source of comfort in their struggle
An angel disguised as a bird
The bird is seen as an angelic figure sent to provide comfort and hope for the artist
Will listen to her every word
The bird listens to the artist's every thought and word, providing a sense of companionship and understanding
So Sinderella's heart won't break
The bird's presence and companionship serve as a source of comfort for the singer, preventing them from falling into complete despair
Happiness in Heaven waits
The singer believes that happiness and comfort await them and their mother in the afterlife
She's the one who does you love
The bird is a symbol of the love and care that the artist's mother provided them, even after her death
Then down that bird, that bird will fly
The bird represents a pathway to heaven, where the artist can reunite with their mother and find peace
Take you to Heaven in the sky
The bird serves as a guide to help the artist reach heaven and find peace
Sinderella, crack whore
The singer is referred to by the derogatory term 'crack whore', which reflects the disdain and disrespect they experience in their life
Your mother you does adore
The artist's mother loved and cherished them, and remains a source of love and comfort even after her death
Contributed by Lincoln L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.