The Birds

Album: Build a Rocket Boys! (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This prog-rock influenced track sticks up for an old man in a nursing home, chided for reminiscing on a failed love affair. Said frontman Guy Garvey to The Sun: "It bugs me that old people are patronized. And the lyrics to that song see the old man recounting the end of this affair while being patronized. 'Oh here we go again.' I liked the idea about the last encounter of a love affair, where the bitterness has gone and the birds are the only things that witnessed it in the line. 'The birds are the keepers of our secrets.' It's quite a dark song."
  • Garvey expanded on the song in an interview with The Observer: "My favorite songs pick on things I've not heard written about before," he said. "In that song the character, who I guess is me as an old man, is looking back on that love affair. The middle eight became the voices of his carers, quite doomy voices saying: 'What we going to do with you, come on inside, looking back is for the birds.' Patronizing him almost: 'Come on, always the same with you', the way that old people are spoken to generally. I suppose I'm saying it's wrong to patronize old people and assume they haven't felt everything that you've felt and remember it very clearly."

Comments: 1

  • Jonathan Of Trenewan from CornwallA song that expresses a truth that old people feel and remember feelings of love discovered and love lost
see more comments

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?