Their debut full-length album, Magnolia, was released in 2009. Since then, The Wooden Birds have played SXSW and toured Europe and the United States multiple times (Europe with Grand Archives, the U.S. with Other Lives, Great Lake Swimmers, The Clientele, Dan Mangan, and Broken Social Scene). They have been known to cover one or two American Analog Set songs in their live set.
In 2010, an EP of demo tracks recorded by Kenny in his home in Brooklyn Heights in 2008 titled Montague Street EP was released by Insound. The band's second album, Two Matchsticks was released in 2011.
www.thewoodenbirds.com
False Alarm
The Wooden Birds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we heard them ringing cause it's been so long
and you were singing at the start of the song
if they were listening to us through the wall
then baby who can blame us if we're wrong?
baby who can blame us if we're wrong?
baby who can blame us if we're wrong?
baby who can blame us if we're wrong?
these foolish arms
they don't know that they hold so long
or they're heavy cause the feelings gone
and if they're listening to us at all
then they weren't really friends of ours
no they weren't really friends of ours
no they weren't really friends of ours
no they weren't really friends of ours
they're going to say we're wrong
they're going to say we're wrong
it's a false alarm
cause it's a false alarm
The Wooden Birds' song "False Alarm" talks about an empty relationship that has lasted too long. The couple has lost their love for each other a long time ago, and they are simply holding onto each other out of habit. They hear the alarm bells ringing, indicating that it is time to let go, but they choose to ignore it. The first stanza talks about how the alarm bells have been ringing for so long that they are used to it. The person they are holding onto is singing at the start of the song, but it is unknown if they are still singing at the end of it.
The second stanza talks about how their arms have held on for so long that they have become foolish. They are unaware that they are holding onto something that has already left. The person they are holding onto may not be their friend, and they are possibly in denial about that fact. The last stanza repeats that it is a false alarm; they are hearing the alarm bells, but they choose to ignore it.
The song stands as a reminder that sometimes letting go is the best option, and holding on to something that is no longer there will only lead to more hurt. It is essential to listen to the signs and make decisions that are best for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
it's a false alarm
The situation is not really as urgent or serious as it seems
we heard them ringing cause it's been so long
We mistook something else for an alarm because it has been a long time since we heard one
and you were singing at the start of the song
You were happy and carefree at the beginning of the situation
if they were listening to us through the wall
If someone was eavesdropping on us secretly
then baby who can blame us if we're wrong?
We can't be blamed for reacting to the false alarm if someone was spying on us
they're going to say we're wrong
Others will criticize or blame us for reacting to the false alarm
these foolish arms
Arms that have been waiting or holding onto something foolishly
they don't know that they hold so long
They don't realize how long they have been holding onto something foolishly
or they're heavy cause the feelings gone
Or they feel heavy because the emotions attached to the thing they're holding onto are now gone
and if they're listening to us at all
And if anyone is paying attention to us
then they weren't really friends of ours
Then they were never truly our friends
no they weren't really friends of ours
They were never truly our friends, as they were spying on us
it's a false alarm
The situation is not really as urgent or serious as it seems
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
chaz shows
are the others loose?