Birdie

Album: Head Above Water (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Memphis-soul-influenced track finds Avril Lavigne singing of feeling trapped "like a bird locked up in a cage." She penned the tune with producer J.R Rotem, who has also worked with Jason Delrulo on several of his hit tunes.
  • Lavigne told Entertainment Weekly that she had the song's concept in her head a couple of years before she wrote it.

    "I was feeling bad," Lavigne explained. "I kept saying to myself, 'I feel like I'm a bird locked up in a cage. I feel like I'm in jail.' I was just stuck with a bunch of s–t. That's where that concept came from."
  • In December 2014, Lavigne was diagnosed with Lyme disease, a condition that left her bedridden for five months. While some of the other songs on Head Above Water are about the singer's illness, she explained "Birdie" is about other stuff in her life.

    "I love that song because it has an empowering message of standing up for yourself, doing something about a situation you're in, taking charge, and removing yourself," Lavigne added. "I think a lot of people can relate to that whether that's a toxic relationship they're in, or they're not happy with their job."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.