The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I bought myself a liarbird
He came with free drinks just to blur
The lies falling out like rain
On an average English summer's afternoon
I bought myself a new notebook
Sharpened my guitar and went to look
If this biz was just as bongo as the liarbird made out
All he would say
Is 'I can make you famous'
All he would say
All he would say
'Just like a household name' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
Made of what you believe
If it's false or if it's true
You can read it in your bible
Or on the back of this record sleeve
I bought myself a liarbird
Things got more and more absurd
It changed to a cuckoo
And expanded filling up with all I gave
I bought myself a big mistake
He grew too greedy, bough will break
And then we will find that liarbirds
Are really flightless on their own
All he would say
Is 'I can make you famous'
All he would say
All he would say
'Just like a household name' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
There's no handing it back
If it's false or it's true
You can read it in your prayer book
Or on the side of a cornflake pack
I gave away a liarbird
A couple less drinks and now I've heard
The truth shining out like sun
On an average English winter's afternoon
He came with free drinks just to blur
The lies falling out like rain
On an average English summer's afternoon
I bought myself a new notebook
Sharpened my guitar and went to look
If this biz was just as bongo as the liarbird made out
All he would say
Is 'I can make you famous'
All he would say
All he would say
'Just like a household name' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
Made of what you believe
If it's false or if it's true
You can read it in your bible
Or on the back of this record sleeve
I bought myself a liarbird
Things got more and more absurd
It changed to a cuckoo
And expanded filling up with all I gave
I bought myself a big mistake
He grew too greedy, bough will break
And then we will find that liarbirds
Are really flightless on their own
All he would say
Is 'I can make you famous'
All he would say
All he would say
'Just like a household name' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
There's no handing it back
If it's false or it's true
You can read it in your prayer book
Or on the side of a cornflake pack
I gave away a liarbird
A couple less drinks and now I've heard
The truth shining out like sun
On an average English winter's afternoon
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
I Bought Myself a Liarbird Lyrics as written by Andy Partridge
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Written by Andy Partridge about XTC's former manager, Ian Reid. Just like Queen's "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To...)" was about their former manager although the Queen song was a lot more vicious in nature. Managers ripping off bands seems to be a common happening, sadly (Badfinger, Grand Funk Railroad, etc).