Birdhouse in Your Soul
Encyclopedia
"Birdhouse in Your Soul" is a song by American alternative rock
band They Might Be Giants
. It was released in March 1990 as a single from the album Flood. It reached #3 on the United States Modern Rock Tracks chart and #6 on the UK Singles Chart
and remains their highest-charting single in both countries. The song returned to the UK Singles Chart in 2010, after its use in a television advert for Clarks Shoes
, peaking at #70. The song is sung from the point of view of a nightlight
.
, from the point of view of the nightlight itself. The summation of its opening statements ("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") reveals that while it is not really a friend in the traditional sense of the word, its job as a nocturnal protector of its owner (the listener) makes it their only friend while they sleep. It tells the listener to make a birdhouse (being a safe place for something small and vulnerable) for the light it creates in their mind and soul.
The nightlight then goes on to proclaim its identity ("my name is 'blue canary;' one note, spelled 'L-I-T-E'"), and that it will always serve its intended purpose to the listener and their room. It references a picture in the room of a lighthouse
("There's a picture opposite me of my primitive ancestry, which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck-free"), and states that while it respects the lighthouse's job, it would never be able to perform that job and references Greek mythology
("Though I respect that a lot, I'd be fired if that were my job, after killing Jason
off and countless screaming Argonauts
"). It is simply a "guardian angel" for its friend and owner.
As the song fades, the line "while you're at it, leave the night-lite on inside the birdhouse in your soul" echoes the chorus, essentially telling the listener to keep all the good things that provide light in their soul protected.
The lyric "My story's infinite / Like the Longines Symphonette / It doesn't rest" is a reference to the Longines Symphonette Society
, which back in the 1960s and 1970s, released numerous albums consisting of recordings of various classical and classic pieces of music, as well as to the Longines Symphonette
, a watch showcased at the 1964 New York World's Fair
. In fact, Linnell
attended the fair as a child, which is featured in some of their other songs.
featured a performance of the song by Kristin Chenoweth
and Ellen Greene
in the episode "Pigeon
", an episode whose music was awarded a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
; the song also appeared on the show's soundtrack.
This song was covered by Lemon Demon
on his second album, Live From The Haunted Candle Shop, released on July 23, 2003.
Jonathan Coulton
often performs a cover version of the song while touring with Paul and Storm
.
It was covered by Titus Andronicus for the AV Club's "AV Undercover".
US release
European release
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
. It was released in March 1990 as a single from the album Flood. It reached #3 on the United States Modern Rock Tracks chart and #6 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and remains their highest-charting single in both countries. The song returned to the UK Singles Chart in 2010, after its use in a television advert for Clarks Shoes
C&J Clark
C. and J. Clark International Ltd, trading as Clarks, is a British, international shoe manufacturer and retailer based in Street, Somerset, England...
, peaking at #70. The song is sung from the point of view of a nightlight
Nightlight
A nightlight is a small light fixture, often electrical, placed for comfort or convenience in dark areas or areas that become dark at certain times, such as in an emergency...
.
Lyrics
The song tells the story, in very abstract terms, of a nightlight with the appearance of a blue canaryDomestic Canary
The Domestic Canary, often simply known as the canary, is a domesticated form of the wild Canary, a small songbird in the finch family originating from the Macaronesian Islands ....
, from the point of view of the nightlight itself. The summation of its opening statements ("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") reveals that while it is not really a friend in the traditional sense of the word, its job as a nocturnal protector of its owner (the listener) makes it their only friend while they sleep. It tells the listener to make a birdhouse (being a safe place for something small and vulnerable) for the light it creates in their mind and soul.
The nightlight then goes on to proclaim its identity ("my name is 'blue canary;' one note, spelled 'L-I-T-E'"), and that it will always serve its intended purpose to the listener and their room. It references a picture in the room of a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
("There's a picture opposite me of my primitive ancestry, which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck-free"), and states that while it respects the lighthouse's job, it would never be able to perform that job and references Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
("Though I respect that a lot, I'd be fired if that were my job, after killing Jason
Jason
Jason was a late ancient Greek mythological hero from the late 10th Century BC, famous as the leader of the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus...
off and countless screaming Argonauts
Argonauts
The Argonauts ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, the Argo, which was named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts", therefore, literally means...
"). It is simply a "guardian angel" for its friend and owner.
As the song fades, the line "while you're at it, leave the night-lite on inside the birdhouse in your soul" echoes the chorus, essentially telling the listener to keep all the good things that provide light in their soul protected.
The lyric "My story's infinite / Like the Longines Symphonette / It doesn't rest" is a reference to the Longines Symphonette Society
Longines Symphonette
The Longines Symphonette was a pre-recorded classical music program broadcast nightly on many Mutual stations from 1943 to 1949. It then moved to CBS where it was heard Sundays at 2pm from 1949 to 1957...
, which back in the 1960s and 1970s, released numerous albums consisting of recordings of various classical and classic pieces of music, as well as to the Longines Symphonette
Longines Symphonette
The Longines Symphonette was a pre-recorded classical music program broadcast nightly on many Mutual stations from 1943 to 1949. It then moved to CBS where it was heard Sundays at 2pm from 1949 to 1957...
, a watch showcased at the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
. In fact, Linnell
John Linnell
John Sidney Linnell is an American musician, is known primarily as one half of Brooklyn, New York alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants...
attended the fair as a child, which is featured in some of their other songs.
Cover versions
The television series Pushing DaisiesPushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is an American comedy-drama television series created by Bryan Fuller that aired on ABC from October 3, 2007 to June 13, 2009. The series stars Lee Pace as Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to life with his touch, an ability that comes with stipulations...
featured a performance of the song by Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth is an American singer and actress, with credits in musical theatre, film and television. She is best known on Broadway for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown , for which she won a Tony Award, and for originating the role of Glinda in the musical...
and Ellen Greene
Ellen Greene
Ellen Greene is an American singer and actress. Greene has had a long and varied career as a singer, particularly in cabaret, as an actor and singer in numerous stage productions, particularly musical theatre, as well as having performed in many films – notably Little Shop of Horrors...
in the episode "Pigeon
Pigeon (Pushing Daisies)
"Pigeon" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American television comedy-drama Pushing Daisies. The episode—which features a duet version of the They Might Be Giants song "Birdhouse in Your Soul"—earned Jim Dooley a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for...
", an episode whose music was awarded a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series.-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-Total Awards:* CBS - 10* ABC - 7* NBC - 6* FOX - 3* Syndicated - 3* Discovery Channel - 2...
; the song also appeared on the show's soundtrack.
This song was covered by Lemon Demon
Neil Cicierega
Neil Stephen Cicierega , is an American comedian, filmmaker and musician. He is the creator of a genre of Flash animation known as "Animutation". He has also released several albums as a musician under the stage name "Lemon Demon"....
on his second album, Live From The Haunted Candle Shop, released on July 23, 2003.
Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton is an American singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans...
often performs a cover version of the song while touring with Paul and Storm
Paul and Storm
Paul and Storm are an Arlington, Virginia-based comedic musical duo consisting of Paul Sabourin and Greg "Storm" DiCostanzo. They had formerly been members of the a cappella group Da Vinci’s Notebook....
.
It was covered by Titus Andronicus for the AV Club's "AV Undercover".
Track listing
All songs by They Might Be Giants.US release
- "Birdhouse in Your Soul" – 3:19
- "Hot Cha" – 1:34
European release
- "Birdhouse In Your Soul" – 3:19
- "Hot Cha" – 1:34
- "Hearing Aid" – 3:26
- "Ant" – 1:53
Personnel
- Mark FeldmanMark FeldmanMark Feldman is an American jazz violinist.Feldman worked in Chicago from 1973 to 1980, and in Nashville, Tennessee from 1980 to 1986. He worked in New York City and Western Europe from 1986. Feldman often works with John Zorn, Sylvie Courvoisier, John Abercrombie, The Masada String Trio, Dave...
contributes some violin, while the trumpet sample was played by Frank LondonFrank LondonFrank London is a New York City-based trumpeter, bandleader, and composer active in klezmer and world music. He also plays various other wind instruments and keyboards, and occasionally sings backup vocals. With The Klezmatics, he won a Grammy award in Contemporary World Music for "Wonder Wheel...
.
External links
- "Birdhouse in Your Soul" at This Might Be A Wiki
- Birdhouse in Your Soul EP on This Might Be A Wiki