Around 1985, Chesnutt moved to Athens and joined the band, The La-Di-Da's. After leaving that group he began performing solo on a regular basis at the 40 Watt Club; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.; Stipe produced Chesnutt's first two albums, Little (1990) and West of Rome (1991).
In 1992 Chesnutt was the subject of a PBS documentary, Speed Racer. He also had a small role in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton movie Sling Blade which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.
In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins (with Red Red Meat), Madonna, R.E.M. and Live.
He recorded several times with other groups and artists. Most notably he made two albums with fellow Athens, GA recording artist Widespread Panic, under the name of brute. Chesnutt's album The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was recorded with alt-country group Lambchop as the backing band. The album Merriment was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Vic writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music. The 2005 album Ghetto Bells features famed guitarist Bill Frisell, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the renowned Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale. Chesnutt's wife, Tina Chesnutt, frequently plays bass on his albums. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett also appeared on the Ghetto Bells album.
Chesnutt's first four albums were released on the independent Texas Hotel label. He then recorded About to Choke (1996) for Capitol, which was his first and only major record label recording. The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was on PolyGram; Merriment (2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART was the label for the self performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Vic then found a new home at the New West Records label, who have released two albums for him so far. In 2004 New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.
In the winter of 2006, he recorded his newest album, North Star Deserter at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records. The record includes contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as well as Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen. He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies' 2007 album Trinity Revisited, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session.
On Dec 25th 2009, Vic Chesnutt died after falling into a coma following a suicide attempt.
Official Website: Vic Chesnutt
Fodder On Her Wings
Vic Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reincarnated from her birth
She had fodder in her wings
She had dust inside her brains
She flitted here and there
United States, Switzerland, France, England, everywhere
With fodder in her wings
And dust inside her brains
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
She watched the people how they lived
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their brains
They had dust inside their wings
She watched them how they tried to live
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their wings
They had dust inside their brains
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
A bird fell to earth
Reincarnated from her birth
She had fodder in her wings
She had dust inside her brains
She flitted here and there
United States, France, England, everywhere
With fodder in her wings
And dust inside her brains
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
She watched the people how they lived
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their wings
They had dust inside their brains
She watched them how they tried to live
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their wings
They had dust inside their brains
Quel pays
Quel pays
Quel pays
The lyrics of Vic Chesnutt's "Fodder On Her Wings" tell the story of a bird that was reincarnated and sent back to earth with fodder in her wings and dust inside her brain. From the beginning, the bird moves from place to place, visiting different countries around the world, observing and watching as people go about their lives. The repetition of the phrase "Oh how sad" throughout the song highlights the bird's disappointment in how people have forgotten how to give and have become consumed by the negative effects of the world around them.
The use of the metaphor of a bird with fodder in her wings and dust in her brain is thought-provoking and revelatory of the human condition. The fodder represents the ideas and beliefs that weigh us down, making it difficult for us to move forward and soar through life, while the dust symbolizes the negative experiences that fill our minds, preventing us from seeing the beauty in the world around us. The bird's observations of people serve as a wake-up call to the listeners, imploring us to examine ourselves and search for the love, kindness, and joy we once knew.
Overall, "Fodder On Her Wings" is a powerful commentary on the human condition, reminding us that in the midst of our own struggles, we must not forget to give to others, learn to let go of the things that weigh us down, and see the beauty that surrounds us.
Line by Line Meaning
A bird fell to earth
A bird descended down to the ground
Reincarnated from her birth
The bird was reborn after death
She had fodder in her wings
The bird's wings had material for nourishment
She had dust inside her brains
The bird had debris in her mind
She flitted here and there
The bird moved around swiftly
United States, Switzerland, France, England, everywhere
The bird traveled to many places
Oh how sad
Expressing sadness or disappointment
She watched the people how they lived
The bird observed people's way of life
They'd forgotten how to give
People no longer know how to be generous
They had fodder in their brains
People's minds were filled with unimportant information
They had dust inside their wings
People lacked the ability to fly away from their problems
Quel pays
What country
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tanyasmith4380
I FIRST HEARD THIS BEAUTIFUL SONG SUNG BY NINA SIMONE IN THE 1990'S. I CRYED. IT WAS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. I GREW UP KNOWING & LOVING NINA'S MUSI FROM RRTHE AGE OF 9 BECAUSE MY OLDER RELATIVES -PLAYED HER MUSIC OFTE
N.
- I HAVE DISCOVERED VICS MUSIC ONLY RECENTLY.INCREDIBLE. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT HE HAS COVERED NINA'S SONG...
@kawa0
so beautiful...
@Rouulioo
An hypnotic sadness
@myblueberryhill
Rest in peace
@ThaFreakymeL
@kawa0 indeed
@soma5216
A bird fell to earth
Reincarnated from her birth
She had fodder on her wings
She had dust, dust inside her brains
She flitted here and there
United States, Switzerland, France, England, everywhere
With fodder on her wings
And dust inside her brains
Oh, how sad
Oh, how sad
Oh, how sad
She watched the people how they lived
They'd forgotten how, how to give, how to give
They had fodder on their wings
And dust inside their brains
Oh, how sad
Oh, how sad
Oh, how sad