Little Bird

Before I get to the meaning I just want to get to some prelude: Imogen Heap's parents separated when she was 12. One can infer that her parent's had been conflicted for years prior.

In short, I feel that this song is from the perspective of Imogen Heap as a child; during the years prior to the divorce of her parents, when they were so conflicted.

Little bird, little bird, little bird, what d'ya hear?
The clink of morning cheers
Orange juice, concentrate
Crossword puzzles start to grate
One across
4 letter word it's just not sitting

Imogen describes a typical morning in the Heap household. At the end of the verse Imogen mentions that a 4-letter word isn't fitting quite well. I may be going out on a ledge when I say this, but I think that the word she's referring to is the word "good," or something equal in length and meaning.

Little bird, little bird, little bird, what do you see?
A picture perfect scene
Two tone lawns are manicured
The garden's wearing haute couture
It's hiding something
It's trying too hard

The first chorus shows that Imogen's surroundings are esthetically perfect. "May be too perfect!" as the connotes in the 5th and 6th lines. This indicates fishy behavior that isn't in accordance with the visuals in her life.

Little bird, little bird, little bird, where are they now?
Daytime TV. lounge
A carriage clock, a mantelpiece
A family wiped up j-cloth cleaned
Unsaid, festers
In the throws of the sofa

Imogen is curious of her parent's whereabouts. Imogen continues to elaborate on the incredulous aesthetics. She states that the family photo is "clean", but, only because of the j-cloth that did so. Imogen becomes increasingly festered because she's being kept away from the problems that her parents are going through; she knows something is going on, but wishes she knew more!

Little bird, little bird, little bird, how are you feeling?
Like help in quarantine
Pearly white touch down smile
Absent creases round the eyes
Tell tale, hard sell, we smell rats in the kitchen

Imogen states that the "little bird" is helping her while she's in quarantine. Also, she iterates the fact that smiles(possible of the whole family) are faux, as they lack creases around the eyes of their displayers. (Look in the mirror, smile softly, notice the lack of creases, then, smile big and wide, to the point that your eyes have creases around them:) Later, Imogen asks her parents to inform her of what's going on, it's apparently a "hard sell". Her parents, in their benevolent attempt to shield their daughter, make-up the excuse, "WE SMELL RATS IN THE KITCHEN!" and run off to investigate the purported reason to run off from the inquisition.

Little bird, little bird, little bird what can we do?
Think tank, think rescue
Simon says, Etch-a-Sketch
Some encoded message only he would get
Quickly now
'Cause this is not how it ends!

She continues conversing with the little bird, asking, what can be done? She considers failing completely or, being rescued. As she continues, one of her parents, amid a game of Simon says, has told her to draw something completely out of her knowledge with her etch-a-sketch(which Imogen loves to play with). Her parents just want to keep her busy and safeguarded from their arguments. At the end of the verse, Imogen grows increasing flustered by her unknowingness and the task which her father has told her to complete.

As for the last verse, I really don't want to divulge my interpretation, because I feel it to be the most heartfelt and saddening verse. I would love for everyone to have their own meaning for it, and, their own explications of this song.

Let me know what you think!