2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

I Bought Myself A Liarbird Lyrics

I bought myself a liarbird
He came with free drinks just to blur
The lies falling out like rain
On an average English summer's afternoon

I bought myself a new notebook
Sharpened my guitar and went to look
If this biz was just as bongo as the liarbird made out

All he would say
Is “I can make you famous”
All he would say
All he would say
“Just like a household name” is
All he would say

Methinks world is for you
Made of what you believe
If it's false or if it's true
You can read it in your bible
Or on the back of this record sleeve

I bought myself a liarbird
Things got more and more absurd
It changed to a cuckoo
And expanded filling up with all I gave

I bought myself a big mistake
He grew too greedy, bough will break
And then we will find that liarbirds
Are really flightless on their own

All he would say
Is “I can make you famous”
All he would say
All he would say
“Just like a household name” is
All he would say

Methinks world is for you
There's no handing it back
If it's false or it's true
You can read it in your prayer book
Or on the side of a cornflake pack

I gave away a liarbird
A couple less drinks and now I've heard
The truth shining out like sun
On an average English winter's afternoon
2 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for I Bought Myself A Liarbird lyrics by XTC

About a man named Ian Reid. XTC, ladies and gentlemen: one of the best pop-rock groups of all time but terrible, terrible businessmen.

Cover art for I Bought Myself A Liarbird lyrics by XTC

Written by Andy Partridge about XTC's former manager, Ian Reid. Just like Queen's "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To...)" was about their former manager although the Queen song was a lot more vicious in nature. Managers ripping off bands seems to be a common happening, sadly (Badfinger, Grand Funk Railroad, etc).

Song Fact
 
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

Ask a question...