Oh, my talking bird
Though you know so few words
They're on infinite repeat
Like your brain can't keep up with your beak

And you're kept in an open cage
So you're free to leave or stay
Sometimes you get confused
Like there's a hint I am trying to give you

The longer you think, the less you know what to do

It's hard to see your way out
When you live in a house in a house
Cause you don't realize
That the windows were open the whole time

Oh, my talking bird
Though your feathers are tattered and furled
I'll love you all your days
Till the breath leaves your delicate face

It's all here for you as long as your choose to stay
It's all here for you as long as you don't fly away


Lyrics submitted by TDDx8, edited by Aristas, catherinec

Talking Bird Lyrics as written by Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Talking Bird song meanings
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52 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    Here's the album version of the lyrics. Just a heads-up.

    One, two, three, four

    Oh, my talking bird

    Though you know so few words

    They're on infinite repeat

    Like your brain can't keep up with your beak

    And you're kept in an open cage

    So you're free to leave or stay

    And sometimes you get confused

    Like there is a hint that I'm trying to give you

    And the longer you think, the less you know what to do

    It's hard to see your way out

    When you live in a house in a house

    'Cause you don't realize

    That the windows were open the whole time

    But oh, my talking bird

    Though your feathers are tattered and furled

    I'll love you all your days

    Till the breath leaves your delicate frame

    It's all here for you

    As long as you choose

    To stay

    It's all here for you

    As long as you don't fly away

    Nimbyon May 02, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    For me personally this song is not about a girlfriend. It can easily interpreted that way, but would say something like that to a loved one? I don't think so. I would find the lyrics pretty insulting, if they'd really mean that.

    For me the talking bird is the mind of a worried person or someone, who's desperately seeking an answer for something. Those same thoughts (though you know so few words) that you repeat over and over (on infinite repeat). Also, the person who worries, chooses to do that, he could think about happier things, if he really tried - that explains the lines with "...the windows were open the whole time..." and I can really relate to that.

    I would appreciate your thoughts on my theory very much

    Icewolfon August 15, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    He's in love with her for her bird-like features: she's elegant and carefree, talkative but harmless. She's happy to have him around, a companion and admirer. She sings to him, a chittering call that lights her up, but he doesn't know how to ask for a commitment. He knows she'll never stay but for some reason she still hangs around. She doesn't know how she feels for him, but she wants to be around him. Open doors, open windows, and able wings, yet she's confused as to whether she should stay or go.

    HopeTokenon March 06, 2012   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    This is one of my favorite Death Cab for Cutie songs, the other being Grapevine Fires. Listening to this song and analyzing the lyrics, my interpretation is this song is about a care taker living with older person, the bird, who is suffering Alzheimer's.

    "Oh, my talking bird Though you know so few words They're on infinite repeat Like your brain can't keep up with your beak" The talking bird represents an older person, the second and third lines represent a symptom of Alzheimer's, repetitive speech.

    "And you're kept in an open cage So you're free to leave or stay Sometimes you get confused Like there's a hint I am trying to give you" The first two lines represent an option of moving into a retirement home or staying with the care taker. The last two lines, the bird thinks the care taker is pushing them to the retirement home.

    "The longer you think, the less you know what to do" The bird is confused and doesn't know if it would be best to move into a retirement home or stay where they are.

    "It's hard to see your way out When you live in a house in a house Cause you don't realize That the windows were open the whole time" The first two lines talk about how the bird's memory is degrading and they can't find their way out. The last line again represents the option to leave or stay.

    "Oh, my talking bird Though your feathers are tattered and furled I'll love you all your days Till the breath leaves your delicate face" The care taker will love and care for the bird until death.

    "lt's all here for you as long as your choose to stay It's all here for you as long as you don't fly away" The care taker will be there for the bird as long as they choose to stay.

    MehDudeon June 17, 2016   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Uh ya its about his lover who doesnt know if she should stay or go. She can leave if she wants but its complicated. He loves her though. Seems simple to me though none of you have suggested this.

    TheGallowson May 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    so the demo on the open door EP... this version is so much better there. it's ben singing with the ukulele. incredible.

    thenewyearon June 30, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ben has been notoriously shallow when it comes to his choice of women. He explains this vividly in "Tiny Vessels". I think this song is a reflection of himself intertwined with the "stupid" women he choses. I think he feels like he is captive to the women that fall prey to him. I could be wrong, but I totally relate to this..

    dandaman19620on February 27, 2014   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    Here's another concept album interpretation on Narrow Stairs.

    Our main character is the one speaking in this song. He is talking to Cath, calling her his talking bird. A talking bird suggests that in his eyes, she's treasured and adored as a pet bird would be. He tells her that he loves and and he will always be there for her, but that is she ever feels like she needs to, she's free to leave. He offers her everything he has, and tells her that it's all hers for the taking as long as she stays. It's a sweet thing to say, but what makes it difficult is that they aren't really together cause they love each other, but because they need someone so badly.

    See the next song for further progression on our character's story.

    cgreene32on May 09, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    i got this album right before my grandma succumbed to Alzheimer's. she'd held on for quite a number of years, losing more memory and vocabulary with each passing one. she'd always been a talker, so instead of the usual chatter, we'd get some babble and bits of real words. the first time i heard this song, i saw the character as my grandma. she knew few words she'd repeat, she'd get confused, she didn't really know where she was in those last few years in the nursing home, her once lustrious hair was flat and unkempt...she was our talking bird. but unlike the last line, we wanted her to fly away...not that we didn't love her dearly; we just wanted her to be herself again without any of the physical discomfort she suffered. i can't really listen to this song too often anymore...

    bouncehoperon January 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really try to refrain from judging a song based on a live recording. Personally, this song is beautiful.

    TDDx8on April 28, 2008   Link

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