Elbow – The Birds

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The birds are the keepers of our secret as they saw us where we lay
In the deepest grass of springtime in a reckless guilty haze
And they wove a sweet indifference and it settled on our skin
Till the eyes that I remembered for the last time drew me in

The birds
Though I wore you glacial patience to a smudge of bitter dust
On the last day you embraced me with a glistening sapling trust
Did they sing a million blessings as they watched us slowly part
Do they keep those final kisses in their tiny racing hearts

What are we gonna do with you
Same tale every time
What are we gonna do with you
Come on inside
Looking back is for the birds

Send "The Birds" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Iemanja75

Track duration: 08:04

"The Birds" as written by Guy Edward John/potter Garvey

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group

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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I really wanted to not like this song. Starts the CD off very slow and low toned......but it picks up n when Garvey explodes into the chorus, it instantly reminds me why I love Elbow. Always a story...always pure emotion!!
    Flag Weaslemulberryon May 16, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Garvey expanded on the song; "My favourite 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.' Patronising 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 patronise old people and assume they haven't felt everything that you've felt and remember it very clearly."
    Flag niteflite01on March 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:So far, i've heard 5 minutes of the new Elbow album and so far, I really like it!
    My guess is it's about looking back on a lover who has died?
    The last verse ... i don't know, it kinda throws me off.
    Flag TKirbyon March 21, 2011   Link

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