I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I have a secret to tell
From my electrical well
It's a simple message and I'm leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue canary, one note spelled L-I-T-E
My story's infinite
Like the Longines Symphonette, it doesn't rest

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am

There's a picture opposite me
Of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free
Though I respect that a lot
I'd be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness
Like guardian angels it's always near

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

While you're at it
Keep the nightlight on inside
The birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you? (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)

Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you? (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)

Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul


Lyrics submitted by Irrational

Birdhouse In Your Soul Lyrics as written by John S. Linnell John C. Flansburgh

Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Birdhouse in Your Soul song meanings
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    General Comment

    OK. I'm not picking on anyone in particular (actually, I'm picking on a couple people in particular), but do people read any of the previous posts before stating their opinions? Two of the Jesus interpreters posted saying that there interpretation was new to this forum, even though it was the exact same interpretation as the same Jesus one. I have no problem with people writing their opinion, even if it is the same, but don't say "OK -- here's a possible interpretation," as if you are the first to say it. Read and say whether or not you concur with previous opinions and state your reasoning. If you want posterity to take the time to read your interpretation, then take the time to read previous comments on the song your commenting on.

    That said, the religious metaphor does work and that is what it means to some people. To me, the song is about a nite lite asking to be recognized/remembered for doing its job well, even though it is daytime. If you look at the circle of life, night is the end and day the beginning, but the nite lite does its job obviously at night. Thus it must not have yet done its job, meaning it is preparing to do its job and is nervous that it won't be remembered, won't have that place high up in the owner's soul. I know the Johns did not put this much thought into it, but this is my personal interpretation as a poet.

    So in my personal interpretation, the song is a metaphor basically for growing up and more exactly coming of age. The narrator is getting ready to become an adult and is nervous that he/she won't do a good enough job to be remembered in that "little birdhouse in your soul."

    I know that this isn't the true interpretation, but it is what it means to me. This is the second best TMBG song that I know, albeit I don't own most of the albums. My favorite is She's an Angel.

    ebowtheletteron March 05, 2006   Link

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