In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I curse the day she bought me that old bird
Squawking, talking, telling everything it ever heard
She never would have known about Big Betty Brown and me
But he fowled up and told her some things you won't believe
Oh my woman moved out on me today
And left that old stool pigeon parrot trembling in his cage
I hollered from the front porch and stopped her at the curb
And the last thing I gave her was the bird
[Chorus]
Oh the last thing I gave her was the bird
And she returned the favor with a few selected words
I don't have to worry now what's being overheard
The last thing I gave her was the bird
She sat the cage beside her on the seat
And left two streaks of firestone smokin' on the street
The neighbors ran for cover they could see she was disturbed
'Cause the last thing I gave her was the bird
Squawking, talking, telling everything it ever heard
She never would have known about Big Betty Brown and me
But he fowled up and told her some things you won't believe
Oh my woman moved out on me today
And left that old stool pigeon parrot trembling in his cage
I hollered from the front porch and stopped her at the curb
And the last thing I gave her was the bird
[Chorus]
Oh the last thing I gave her was the bird
And she returned the favor with a few selected words
I don't have to worry now what's being overheard
The last thing I gave her was the bird
She sat the cage beside her on the seat
And left two streaks of firestone smokin' on the street
The neighbors ran for cover they could see she was disturbed
'Cause the last thing I gave her was the bird
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
The Bird Lyrics as written by Dennis J. Knutson Arthur Leo Owens
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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