Growing up in a family of seven children in Torquay, Victoria (Australia), near the famous surfing location Bells Beach, Rudd showed a keen interest in music. While primary school-aged, Rudd used his mother's vacuum cleaner as a makeshift didgeridoo and he began playing his brother's guitar. He also played saxophone and clarinet as a child.
Before launching his solo career, Rudd began playing music as part of the band 'Xavier and the Hum'. In 2004, Rudd released Solace, his first album to be distributed by a major label.
Rudd's music is compassionate and always manages to render emotion in his fans. His songs include stories of the mistreatment of the indigenous people of his homeland; they tell of humanity, spirituality or the environment. The songs are written and sung with compassion and they urge the celebration of life.
Rudd is skilled with a variety of instruments, include guitar, shaker, didgeridoo, Weissenborn slide guitar, Tongue drum, stomp boxe, djembe, harmonica, ankle bells, and slide banjo. It's an experience to watch him perform his songs live, as he plays the guitar, digeridoo and various percussion instruments simultaneously, using a unique stage setup. But the real magic comes when he opens his mouth and his soulful voice spills upon his audience.
Rudd recalls that when he was 10, his dad took him to see Paul Simon’s Graceland tour. “I remember seeing it and knowing that that was what I was gonna do,” he says. “I had no doubt. It sort of made sense, because I’d always lived in my head, in this world of song that was my own little secret. But to see that show and that whole thing happening, I sort of felt comfortable as a human, and thought.” He learned to play the digeridoo, the 50,000-year-old wooden trumpet of the Aboriginal people, by practising on a vacuum cleaner pipe.
As a teenager, Rudd really got into songwriting. He started performing at his school, with solo gigs following. He drew inspiration from artists such as Leo Kottke, Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant and multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, as well as music from diverse sources, such as Hawaii and Native American music.
As with most solo artists, Rudd has experimented playing in a band. Though it was a short- lived experiment, as Rudd quickly found that it wasn't the right way to go for him. “What I do now is just more me,” he says. “And it sounds full.”
Quotes:
“It’s all about peace and happiness,” he says of his performances. “That’s sort of the blanket that seems to sort of settle in the room, or on the venue when I play, but I sort of feel not solely responsible. I don’t really feel like it’s me and the audience. I feel like it’s all of us, one big connection and I just happen to be channeling the energy through music. It comes from the audience and channels through me and I put it back in the audience.”
“My music is about good spirit. I’m so lucky to be able to do what I do. I’m so blessed to be able to be able to travel around and play music and connect with so many people in so many places in so many cultures. It’s a gift of life as a musician.”
After the failure of his marriage in 2009, Rudd was supported in his grief and recovery by new South African bandmates, bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo. Rudd had met Moloantoa and Nqubezelo performing at the 2008 Wiesen Nuke Festival in Austria. Rudd described his connection with Moloantoa and Nqubezelo as musical, spiritual and emotional—"I feel like they were sent to me," he said.
In 2010 Rudd bought 20 hectares of property at Koonyum Range, Mullumbimby, the location was the inspiration for the name of the album Rudd would release with Moloantoa and Nqubezelo, titled "Koonyum Sun", as Xavier Rudd & Izintaba. The album moved away from the heavier sound of Rudd's 2008 album "Dark Shades of Blue" to a more up-beat style.
"Nanna", the 2015 album Rudd released as Xavier Rudd & the United Nations champions cultural understanding and condemns racism and intolerance. It features a diverse group of musicians from Australia, South Africa, Samoa, Germany, Ireland, and Papua New Guinea.
In 2018, Rudd released "Storm Boy".
Spirit Bird
Xavier Rudd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do what we can laugh an we cry
And we sleep in your dust because we've seen this all before
Culture fades with tears and grace
Leaving us stunned hollow with shame
We have seen this all, seen this all before
Many tribes of a modern kind,
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Many tribes of a modern kind,
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side,
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Slowly it fades
Slowly we fade
Slowly you fades
Slowly you fade
Spirit bird she creaks and groans
She knows she has, seen this all before she has, seen this all before
Spirit bird she creaks and groans she knows she has,
Seen this all before she has, seen this all before she has
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Soldier on soldier on my good country man
Keep fighting for your culture,
Now keep fighting for your land
I know its been thousands of years
And I feel your hurt and I know its wrong
And you feel you've been chained and broken and burned
And those beautiful old people
Those wise old souls have been ground down for far too long
By that spineless that greedy man that hearless man deceiving man
That government hand taking blood and land taking blood and land and still they can
But your dreaming and your warrior spirit lives on and it is so so so strong
In the earth in the trees in the rocks in the water
In your blood and in the air we breath
Soldier on soldier on my good country man,
Keep fighting for your children now keep fighting for your land
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can laugh and we cry and we sleep in your dust because we've seen it all before
In Xavier Rudd's song Spirit Bird, he takes a deep dive into the history of the world, exploring cultures of the past, and understanding the continued battles of the present. He starts with a somber reflection on the fleeting nature of time, wondering why we bother going through life when we'll eventually fade away. He contrasts the limitations of human mortality with the intransient nature of the environment and human culture. He considers how culture fades over time, becoming a memory, a shadow of what it once was, while the land remains.
Rudd then calls for unity and connection, observing that while many different tribes exist, they are connected by a shared spirit that rebels against oppression and subjugation. This spirit unites the tribes despite their differences and cultural uniqueness. In this way, collective action can serve as an antidote to the dismantling of cultures and people.
The chorus is anchored by the metaphor of the Spirit Bird, which expresses the pain and burden of knowing how humans have mistreated the environment in the past. The Spirit Bird acts as a guardian of nature, empathizing with the challenge of witnessing the same mistakes over and over again.
The verse ends with a message of hope and encouragement for those who are fighting still for their land and their culture. Rudd envisions their spirit as enduring and resilient, living on in the earth, the trees, the rocks, the water, the air, and the blood of those who carry it forward.
Overall, the Spirit Bird in Rudd's song embodies the pervasive theme of interconnectedness and the responsibility we all have to maintain a healthy relationship with the planet and each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Give it time and wonder why
We must be patient and ponder upon the reasons behind things happening in our lives.
Do what we can laugh an we cry
We try our best and experience both joy and sorrow in life.
And we sleep in your dust because we've seen this all before
We are desensitized to recurring themes in society and their negative impact.
Culture fades with tears and grace
Cultural traditions slowly disappear with sorrow and beauty.
Leaving us stunned hollow with shame
This loss of culture leaves us in shock and feeling empty with guilt.
We have seen this all, seen this all before
We recognize and anticipate the consequences of repeating the same patterns in society.
Many tribes of a modern kind
There are various contemporary groups of people.
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side
Although they work on different things, they are still unified by their spirit within.
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Coming together with love and acknowledgement of their past ancestry.
Slowly it fades
Things change gradually and will eventually disappear.
Slowly we fade
As things fade away, people will also lose parts of themselves.
Slowly you fades
Addressing an individual, we all experience losss and change eventually.
Spirit bird she creaks and groans
The spirit of nature grieves for the current state of the world.
She knows she has, seen this all before she has, seen this all before
Nature is aware of the cycle of destruction and creation taking place throughout history.
Soldier on soldier on my good country man
Keep fighting and standing strong for your country and your people.
Keep fighting for your culture,
Don't let the traditions and customs of your people fade away.
Now keep fighting for your land
Don't allow others to continue taking the land that rightfully belongs to your people.
I know its been thousands of years
The struggles and conflicts between cultures have persisted for centuries.
And I feel your hurt and I know its wrong
Empathy is present for those who are suffering from pain and injustice.
And you feel you've been chained and broken and burned
People have been oppressed and hurt in many ways by others.
Those wise old souls have been ground down for far too long
Respect for the experiences and wisdom of elders has been disregarded for too long.
By that spineless that greedy man that hearless man deceiving man
Those in power, who lack courage and compassion, have deceived and exploited those without it.
That government hand taking blood and land taking blood and land and still they can
Governments continue to take resources and harm people despite the negative impact it has.
But your dreaming and your warrior spirit lives on and it is so so so strong
The resilience and determination of people to fight for what they believe in still remains, and is incredibly powerful.
In the earth in the trees in the rocks in the water
The spirit and essence of the land and nature is present within all of us.
In your blood and in the air we breath
The elements of nature are intertwined within us, it is part of our being.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: XAVIER RUDD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Haroupi
LYRICS:
Give it time and wonder why
Do what we can laugh an we cry
And we sleep in your dust because we've seen this all before
Culture fades with tears and grace
Leaving us stunned hollow with shame
We have seen this all, seen this all before
Many tribes of a modern kind,
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side,
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Many tribes of a modern kind,
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side,
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Slowly it fades
Slowly we fade
Slowly you fades
Slowly you fade
Spirit bird she creaks and groans
She knows she has, seen this all before she has, seen this all before
Spirit bird she creaks and groans she knows she has,
Seen this all before she has, seen this all before she has
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Soldier on soldier on my good country man
Keep fighting for your culture,
Now keep fighting for your land
I know its been thousands of years
And I feel your hurt and I know its wrong
And you feel you've been chained and broken and burned
And those beautiful old people
Those wise old souls have been ground down for far too long
By that spineless that greedy man that hearless man deceiving man
That government hand taking blood and land taking blood and land and still they can
But your dreaming and your warrior spirit lives on and it is so so so strong
In the earth in the trees in the rocks in the water
In your blood and in the air we breath
Soldier on soldier on my good country man,
Keep fighting for your children now keep fighting for your land
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can laugh and we cry and we sleep in your dust because we've seen it all before
@rashellv.1130
This song calls to my spirit. It reminds me of the return of the bird tribes. It tells me to go home. Home to the four corners area and find my Tribe.
I hear you Gaia. I hear you ancestors. I am here. I am awake. I am here to help create a New Earth for the people, for you. We didn't forget, and we are now moving to become one with you once again.
Thank you creator. Thank you source. Thank you Gaia for brining me back the the remembering.
I love you.
I love you all who are all apart of me.
Let us use our collective consciousness to create the paradise we know has existed before and can exist once again.
Rainbow Warriors! UNIT!
🌈💙🙏🦋🌍
@zeynepdoganruijter7102
Give it time and wonder why
Do what we can laugh an we cry
And we sleep in your dust because we've seen this all before
Culture fades with tears and grace
Leaving us stunned hollow with shame
We have seen this all, seen this all before
Many tribes of a modern kind,
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side,
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Many tribes of a modern kind,
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side,
Joining hearts and hand and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Slowly it fades
Slowly we fade
Slowly you fades
Slowly you fade
Spirit bird she creaks and groans
She knows she has, seen this all before she has, seen this all before
Spirit bird she creaks and groans she knows she has,
Seen this all before she has, seen this all before she has
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Soldier on soldier on my good country man
Keep fighting for your culture,
Now keep fighting for your land
I know its been thousands of years
And I feel your hurt and I know its wrong
And you feel you've been chained and broken and burned
And those beautiful old people
Those wise old souls have been ground down for far too long
By that spineless that greedy man that hearless man deceiving man
That government hand taking blood and land taking blood and land and still they can
But your dreaming and your warrior spirit lives on and it is so so so strong
In the earth in the trees in the rocks in the water
In your blood and in the air we breath
Soldier on soldier on my good country man,
Keep fighting for your children now keep fighting for your land
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can laugh and we cry and we sleep in your dust because we've seen it all before
@grazielaalexia1297
Spirit Bird
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can laugh and we cry
And we sleep in your dust
Because we've seen this all before
Culture fades with tears and grace
Leaving us stunned, hollow with shame
We have seen this all, seen this all before
Many tribes of a modern kind
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side
Joining hearts and hand
And ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Many tribes of a modern kind
Doing brand new work, same spirit by side
Joining hearts and hand
And ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Slowly it fades
Slowly we fade
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Spirit bird, she creaks and groans
She knows, she has seen this all before, she has
Seen this all before, she has...
Spirit bird, she creaks and groans
She knows, she has seen this all before, she has
Seen this all before, she has...
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly you fade
Slowly you fade
Soldier on, soldier on, my good country, man
Keep fighting for your culture now
Keep fighting for your land
I know it's been thousands of years
And I feel your hurt
And I know it's wrong
And you feel you've been chained and broken and burned
And those beautiful old people
Those wise old souls have been ground down for far too long
By that spineless man, that greedy man, that heartless man
Deceiving man, by government hand
Taking blood and land, taking blood and land
And still they can
But your dreaming and your warrior spirit lives on
And it is so, so, so strong
In the earth, in the trees, in the rocks
In the water, in your blood and in the air we breath
Soldier on, soldier on, my good country, man
Keep fighting for your children now
Keep fighting for your land
Slowly it fades
Slowly we fade
Slowly you fade
Slowly it fades
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can laugh and we cry
And we sleep in your dust
Because we've seen this all before
@ineedtostartstudying
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can laugh and we cry
Sleep in your dust because we've seen this all before
Culture fades with tears and grace
Leaving us stunned hollow with shame
We have seen this all, seen this all before
Many tribes of a modern kind
Doing brand new work same spirit by side
Joining hearts and hands and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
Many tribes of a modern kind
Doing brand new work same spirit by side
Joining hearts and hands and ancestral twine, ancestral twine
And slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
And slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Spirit bird she creaks and groans
She knows she has seen this all before
She has seen this all before, she has
Spirit bird she creaks and groans
She knows she has seen this all before
She has seen this all before, she has
And slowly it fades
And slowly we fade
And slowly we fade
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Soldier on, soldier on my good countrymen
Keep fighting for your culture now, keep fighting for your land
I know it's been thousands of years and I feel your hurt
And I know it's wrong and you feel
You've been chained and broken and burned
And those beautiful old people, those wise old souls
Have been ground down for far too long
By that spineless man, that greedy man, that heartless man
Deceiving man, that government hand taking blood and land
Taking blood and land and still they can
But your dreaming and your warrior spirit lives on
And it is so so so strong
In the earth, in the trees, in the rocks
In the water, in your blood and in the air we breathe
Soldier on, soldier on my good countrymen
Keep fighting for your children now, keep fighting for your land
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Slowly it fades
Stand strong, keep the fire burning
Stick together, gotta keep the wheels turning
Forcing companies to stand aside
Forcing government to recognize the power of this tribe
Stand strong, keep the fire burning
Stick together, gotta keep the wheels turning
Forcing companies to stand aside
Forcing government to recognize the power of this tribe
Stand strong, keep the fire burning
Stick together, gotta keep the wheels turning
Forcing companies to stand aside
Forcing government to recognize the power of this tribe
Stand strong, keep the fire burning, keep the fire burning
Thanks for standing with us, Holland
We'll see you again somewhere
Give it time and we wonder why
Do what we can, laugh and we cry
Sleep in your dust because we've seen this all before
@csefalvaypeter9553
The first time I heard this song was four years ago in Italy. My girlfriend of ten years and wife of one left me a few months before. It was still hurting like hell, emotions constantly switching between anger, guilt, optimistic bargaining and plain sadness. I decided to go to Arco with a good friend to climb some big walls and try to kill the pain with a healthy mix of outdoor joys and climbing induced fear.
Our apartment was at the the main square, and we were lucky to have an accessible rooftop with a few chairs. I tried to get up each morning to get there, watch the sunrise, and before going to bed I spent hours there alone sitting in a chair, watching the mountains, the city and the castle of Arco, while it got darker and darker.
One night there was a celebration of the end of summer, with fireworks over the distant Lake Garda, and a party at the main square. Around midnight most of the people went home, the square got empty and silent. I was sitting on the rooftop, and was nearly asleep on my chair in my hoodie when I heard music from the square. It was a group of girls who were sitting on the stairs of the church, playing a guitar and singing. They were great so vocally as guitarwise and after a few other songs they sang this. I had no idea what the song is, but loved the girls voices, loved the song, and loved how it lifted me up, calmed me down, and completed the perfect view of Arco in the night. I made a short video of them singing to send to a friend, and went on listening, before the girls grabbed their stuff, went home and the city became silent.
Four years passed, I suffered some more, learned a lot, forgave my ex-wife and forgave myself, met a girl and married her a few months ago. And somehow the short video of that night stayed on my phone, and came up time to time. It is about a moment that I will remember forever and that was a perfect pause in the middle of an awful year.
I loved the girls' version so much, that I was afraid to look for the original, but today I decided to find it. Here I am loving it! Thank you Xavier for your part in this memory!
@rva
stunningly beautiful
@ahmetkara118
İnst: @qahmetkara
@TR1GR4MPR0DUCT10N5
Imagine seeing you here, I'm so glad you found this masterpiece.
@alfonsalaragione3140
@Miray Güzel a
@sarahenriques6818
@Marauder Shields 0⁰00000000⁰⁰
@alipicardoso115
I just listen to the song. I love it
@riverofbass
Lost my brother when I was 12. My mother when I was 24. They suffered from depression and killed themselves both. This song connects me to their memory in an indecipherable way I cannot explain. Like being happily sad. The dead are always with us. To whomever is fighting a war in their head, I wish you peace, tranquillity and hope. You are very brave if you've come this far. Peace.
@heloisasilva5842
I'm Sorry to you 🥺. I'm Brazilian, Sorry..because my English is not so good. I wish you peace, love and give up from your life.
@Unknownuser-mw8td
I’m sorry for your loss 😢 May you have peace.
@pennin16
I pray for spiritual strength and victory in Jesus name! ✝️=💜