Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I have a secret to tell
From my electrical well
It's a simple message and I'm leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue canary, one note spelled L-I-T-E
My story's infinite
Like the Longines Symphonette, it doesn't rest
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
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
There's a picture opposite me
Of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free
Though I respect that a lot
I'd be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness
Like guardian angels it's always near
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
While you're at it
Keep the nightlight on inside
The birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you? (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you? (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I have a secret to tell
From my electrical well
It's a simple message and I'm leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue canary, one note spelled L-I-T-E
My story's infinite
Like the Longines Symphonette, it doesn't rest
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
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
There's a picture opposite me
Of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free
Though I respect that a lot
I'd be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness
Like guardian angels it's always near
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
While you're at it
Keep the nightlight on inside
The birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you? (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you? (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Lyrics submitted by Irrational
Birdhouse In Your Soul Lyrics as written by John S. Linnell John C. Flansburgh
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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Wow, some of you people are really reading way too far into this song, especially the religious interpretations. I wonder how you live your lives trying to force your own beliefs down the throat of every piece of art - especially under the guise of "openmindedness." The only reason Jason and Argonauts are mentioned is because of the "primitive ancestry" (lighthouse), and their death was just showing what would have happened if this little nite lite tried to do the job of its ancestors. This has nothing to do with Greek mythology or pagan gods and goddesses. This song has nothing to do with Jesus. I wouldn't say that they just thew together a bunch of lines, because it takes skill to write a song this catchy with lyrics that coincide so well... Rather, I say TMBG is a very talented band that does not take itself too seriously. And if they want to write a song about a stupid-ass nite lite, then so be it. Just enjoy it as is.
@chlimouj “erm actually you aren’t allowed to find your own meanings in people’s art☝️🤓 art is meant to be understood at face value without interpretation🤓”
@chlimouj I'm not saying this song is about religion. But one does not need to be a music major to recognize what TMBG is doing musically with the synthesizers and organs--referencing cathedral organ music of the 1700s.
@chlimouj so how do you REALLY feel?
The Longiness Symphonette was a popular musical act/performance from the '50s or '60s. An orchestra would play short versions of well-known classical music pieces, launching from one piece to another without stopping. You'd hear 2-3 minutes of Bach, then some Tchaichowsky, then a little bit of Mozart, one after the other. That's where the lyric "...it doesn't rest," comes from. It wasn't a full-fledged symphony, but an easy-on-the-ears "symphonette." You can guess that the serious critics hated it, since it was basically the K-Tel of its day, but it was a big hit with Joe Average. Clever stuff.
@Spruce "Launching from one piece to another without stopping" sounds like "Fingertips."
"Tho I respect that a lot, I'd be fired if that were my job after killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts."
In other words, I have a lot of admiration for the work that the lighthouse does, but I'm just a little night-light, my light isn't powerful enough for that task. If it had been me on that shore when Jason and the Argonauts arrived, they would have crashed and died because of my shortcomings, and I would have beem fired as a result.
Is that clear enough?
Greatest. Song. Ever.
This song could cure cancer, the common cold, and that sticky thing growing on your genitals. Contrary to popular belief, the universe revolves around this song.
ok basically, this is sung from the perspective of a night light, in the shape of a blue canary, to whoever is in the room. i'm not too sure about the logines symphonette part though. the best verse in this song is the last one, it's really quite funny
@davewoody I never really thought about the last line of the song on its own, without context. You make a good point.
This song does make sense about God watching over us. But there are two things that prove the songs is written about a light, The first being, My name is blue canary one-word spelled l-i-t-e" It spells it out there "LITE" Of course it's spelled wrong, but it flows which is probably why it's spelled that way. The other part, "There's a picture opposite me, of my primitive ancestry, which stood on rocky shores and, Kept the beaches shipwreck free" He is refering to a lighthouse. Well thats my opinion on the song.
@scandor He always of course says he's plugged into an outlet.<br /> <br /> I like to think he misspells "light" because he's a nightlight so of course he doesn't know how to spell very well.
@scandor It’s spelled “l-i-t-e” because commercial products frequently misspell words (think “froot loops”), and “lite” is a pretty common one.
Here’s a link to a set of nightlights with that misspelling: amazon.com/Westek-NiteLite-Automatic-Incandescent-Plugin/dp/B0026SP4GO
@scandor I agree that the blue canary nigh light was referring to lighthouses being its' "primitive ancestry." I've though thought of it beling anything else.
Really, TMBG did say this song was about a nightlight. It was on their website, although it is true that a lot of their songs have no meaning at all, such as Particle Man. I remember them saying it was kind of funny how many peole try to find the deeply hidden meaning in that song, and many of their others.
@togatora "I love humans. Always seeing patterns in things that aren't there." The Eighth Doctor, "Doctor Who."
The Johns have actually admited this one's about a night light so that takes some of the mystery away. Accross the room from the night light is a picture of a lighthouse which would be his primitive ancestry.
no.
I heard this song on the radio a few times and tried to find it for a while but couldn't. I just got into TMBG thanks to "experimental film" and finally found this song! So cool how they wrote a song from the perspective of a night-light, which was like a guardian angel to me and i'm sure is right now to thousands of kids who fear the dark. "glowing friend" Teehee!