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Elbow — The Birds
Album: Build A Rocket Boys!
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 638









Released: 2011
Length: 7:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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 remember
For the last time drew me in

The birds, though I wore your 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

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

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

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

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

''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''

Did they sing a million blessings
As they watched us slowly part?

''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''

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''

What are we gonna do with you?
What are we gonna do with you?''
Comments (100)add comment
For a moment I thought it was Peter Gabriel.
As always -great lyrics by Guy!
This isn't in rotation anymore?  Dang, this was a good one.
 jbunniii wrote:
Dropped it from 6 to 5 because it just goes on and on and on.

 
This tune has balls to go on....Cut short it wood be Frankenstein without a leg!
 jbunniii wrote:
Dropped it from 6 to 5 because it just goes on and on and on.

 
Yes, quite cutting edge, for creativity, but I must agree, could do with a bit of editing.  
When this came up, I hit the PSD button and got The Byrds in place of "The Birds."

Really well played there, RP.
Groovy.
{#Yes} 
Dropped it from 6 to 5 because it just goes on and on and on.
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Previous comment, yes. Not sure I'm feeling it with this CD. Completely blown away hearing TSSK, discovering them here. Not so sure as they grow their craft. And yes, the comparisons to PG are growing.
 
The album before The Seldom Seen Kid, Leaders of the Free World, is very similar in style, and every bit as good. Also, as One Day Like This did on TSSK, a few songs on that album convincingly disprove those often-recurring criticisms that Elbow can only do depressing music. Especially the hilarious Mexican Standoff comes to mind. 
Great tune!
Soooo beautiful.
I've had to hit PSD 3 times waiting for this misery to finish. On the plus side, it did provide me with Sam Cooke & Nick Drake. Ain't RP great!? :)
..these Elbow joints (a la Spike Lee) are smooth..8 on first hearing (sure to rise—oh hail, let's just make it a 9 from the get-go)..
 brendanvs wrote:
Outstanding song! Reminds me of early Genesis.
 

You should go listen to Nursery Cryme  or Foxtrot again. Your head would explode. This doesn't come close.
I have to agree- I was thinking to myself, 'Have I heard this Peter Gabriel song before?" Also, the chord changes are lovely...

love me some elbow{#Dancingbanana_2}
Beautiful melody to this song! {#Good-vibes}
love this. love. it.
Elbow's stock is - rightly - riding high in the UK right now after their appearance in the closing ceremony for the London Olympic Games.
 Kimberly8 wrote:

The more I listen the more I like this! Indeed the building. Reminds me of Peter Gabriel, which makes Elbow all the better!!

 
Too funny my wife just yelled in:  "Is this Peter Gabriel?".  
i've been listening to this cd again in my car all week. this song is still my fav from it.
I like this a lot!  Groovy, with soul and purpose...  great melody.
Outstanding song! Reminds me of early Genesis. Great to hear it, thanks.
 gatorade wrote:
Leaving the room now. Awful.
 
I'll be here when you return. This is a very good album.        {#Yes}
   

 7 → 8

 

 


 Jörg_Asmussen wrote:
I love these evolutionary evolving songs, building ... drifting ... sailing  ....
 
Nicely put. 

The more I listen the more I like this! Indeed the building. Reminds me of Peter Gabriel, which makes Elbow all the better!!


I love these evolutionary evolving songs, building ... drifting ... sailing  ....
Hmmm ... This is alien earwig music, because it retlentlessly drills it's way into your brain ...  yet I can't turn away ... hmmm
Not really familiar with these guys, but I guess I like 'em. Just noticed that I liked and commented on another song of theirs. 
Whilst I've no doubt that they're very clever and musically accomplished, Elbow do nowt for me apart from from bore me to tears. Sorry.
I likey likey likey.  9
{#Yes}{#Yes}

(And I'm quite happy if Elbow wants to bring back the anthem.)

 Deadwing wrote:
wow      {#Jump}
 


Not their absolute best...but I like the arrangement and tight harmony that stays with all of the melody. This band seems to create what THEY like to hear...not necessarily what they think OTHERS want to. I respect that greatly. Maybe it's because I like to hear what they create. Profound stuff, huh? Yep.

Leaving the room now. Awful.
 mineralBOB wrote:

Still prefer Seldom seen kids!

 

i agree. This one is a bit TO {#Sleep}
It caught my ear immediately    {#Bounce}

Really loving it!
wow      {#Jump}
 grungepuppy wrote:
Amazingly uninventive chord progression. Sorry, just playing the same note over and over again doesn't really make a song. Couple that with the tediously boring vocal delivery and we have another steaming pile from this crappy band.
 
There. Fixed it for you.

Previous comment, yes. Not sure I'm feeling it with this CD. Completely blown away hearing TSSK, discovering them here. Not so sure as they grow their craft. And yes, the comparisons to PG are growing.
 lattalo wrote:
Love the new CD, very good.  One of the best songs on it.
 
Still prefer Seldom seen kids!

I have a feeling that this song is 20 minutes long...
Quite boring...

I think it's boring... I don't mind tension builders, but this one doesn't deliver....

4


Nope, no thanks. Tedious and monotonus,
Love the new CD, very good.  One of the best songs on it.
Haven't heard it a ton yet, but the beginning (and the pulsing rhythms and keyboard arrangements later on and throughout) still catches me thinking it's The Secret Machines...then the (Guy's) vocals kick in, and then it's fairly clear who it is...It seems these guys are pretty good at making "different" work as a style on this one...  One thing I noticed after this listen was a really cool reflexive chord progression and hook thing happening in the gray matter...and that matters to me.  Some of the sonic moments on Seldom Seen Kid are so incredibly powerful they move me to swoon...I haven't yet heard that on cuts from this one, but I'm digging the exposure I get on RP to all this sort of stuff I would not otherwise get...  Keep it UP, Bill and Becca!

The first time I heard it, I almost hated it. Now I think it's a great song, even with the shadow of Peter Gabriel...


 sirdroseph wrote:


Yes, I fear Elbow is starting to trademark boring.{#Sad}
 

They are excelling at their craft. Maybe if it wasn't so ridiculously long.......................... 

Peter Gabriel called...darn! I'm not the only one....again!)



 Stingray wrote:
WOOOOW - is that depressingly boring!!!

 

Yes, I fear Elbow is starting to trademark boring.{#Sad}
It was fine the first few dozen times. Maybe I just listen to RadioParadise too many hours of the day, but this song has gotten to be Sucko-Barfo.
 DaveInVA wrote:
I like this

 
It's growing on me.

I like this

Yea, I'm really liking this track. Good album overall, but a little slow in areas. The other standout track is "Neat Little Rows".
Haunting melody - Hitchcock would approve.
 Jelani wrote:
this is really crazy.
Wasn't an Elbow fan at all, with that last album. Now this, I think, is brilliant.
it is just such a cool and quirky sounding record(from the few tunes I've heard).
 
Yes, Elbow is starting to grow on me as well.  Sounds like Peter Gabriel singing in there as well.


A 12th century tune played on mid-20th century instruments, but it seems as fresh as the sun rising outside my window right now. A triumph.
 Felix_The_Cat wrote:

No Sir, boring as few other songs...

 
Agree. This is track ONE off their new album? Seriously?! Snoooozer. I'll give it a '3'


 linzie wrote:
I like this BECAUSE it sounds like Peter Gabriel...this amd mirrorball......
 
I agree - very Gabrielesque.  Funny that Gabriel actually covers 'Mirrorball' on his latest release and it isn't half as good as the original.

 adroc wrote:
Maybe I need to listen more to get it, but this album is falling well short of "The Seldom Seem Kid" for me.
 
I listened more and I got it!! This record is brilliant, absolutely brilliant.  Little disappointed that Bill hasn't added 'Lippy Kids'.... the way the lyric "build a rocket boys!" is sung and emoted is truly spine-tingling.


First time for me...nice. I dig. 8
Wow, this is a fantastic song. Thanks Bill ! I hadn't paid attention to this album when it came out. I ran back from the kitchen just to find out what it was...

No Sir, boring as few other songs...



I like this BECAUSE it sounds like Peter Gabriel...this amd mirrorball......
I do like the CD cover art.

Sweet Melody 
Not their best!
 Stingray wrote:
WOOOOW - is that depressingly boring!!!

 
For once...maybe twice, gotta agree with Stingray. 

I do like the change with the drums...but man, takes a loooooong time to get there, with a very monotonous melody.

OMFG...the explosion of sound at 5:10......just gives me goosebumps every time! {#Notworthy}
I like the way it builds.
WOOOOW - is that depressingly boring!!!

Make it stop or I will!
 
this is really crazy.
Wasn't an Elbow fan at all, with that last album. Now this, I think, is brilliant.
it is just such a cool and quirky sounding record(from the few tunes I've heard).
 adroc wrote:
Maybe I need to listen more to get it, but this album is falling well short of "The Seldom Seem Kid" for me.
If it was better than The Seldom Seen Kid, I'd be frightened. Considering my first 10's for a couple of cuts on that one.

Nice tune, but i've expected something more from new album
Turn It Up! Like Porcupine Tree, these guys create Pop/Rock music for adults. Combine Guy Garvey's captivating voice, with finely textured, experimental music that pulls you in. They continue to do their own thing.  Another winner from Elbow!{#Music} 
 adroc wrote:
Maybe I need to listen more to get it, but this album is falling well short of "The Seldom Seem Kid" for me.
 
Yeah i agree with you. I really want to like this album as much as Seldom but I'm not sure if it is as good. Maybe another couple of listens might do it.
wow, that was truly awful
Can only take Elbow in short increments. All their songs start to run together if you listen to them too much.

Maybe I need to listen more to get it, but this album is falling well short of "The Seldom Seem Kid" for me.
 Alexandra wrote:
{#Notworthy}  Love the harmonies, love the hypnotic groove, the nuances, the string parts.........

I am still warming up to the rest of the CD, but this one just effin' moves me.

 

Ditto, but add the lyrics, too.  The haters seem to have a short attention span.  Give this one an attentive listen all the way through and it is quite rewarding.

 grungepuppy wrote:
Amazingly uninventive chord progression. Sorry, just playing the same note over and over again doesn't really make a song. Couple that with the tediously boring vocal delivery and we have another steaming pile from this crappy band.
 
I'm with you on the uninventive chord progressions and boring vocal delivery.  Don't know any of their other work, so can't comment on whether this is indicative of their work, but I'm not getting this one at all.  But I'll be open minded to listening again to see whether it grows on me in future listenings. 

Liking the new Elbow so far.  I've really enjoyed Seldom Seen Kid.
{#Notworthy}  Love the harmonies, love the hypnotic groove, the nuances, the string parts.........

I am still warming up to the rest of the CD, but this one just effin' moves me.

pretty cool. and I'm NOT an Elbow fan.
 danlaufer wrote:
elbow album and songs are always slow growers.. But when it clicks, it clicks!
 
I agree.  It took me quite awhile to like "Mirrorball," but once it clicked, it became my favorite song, so I bought the CD.  I suspect, this will be another CD I'll be buying - once I get my credit card back under control after having purchased a Turin Brakes CD.... Shame on me...)

Masterpiece of an opening track.
I've only gone through the album once or twice so far, but The Birds keeps haunting me.
Totally f$%king brilliant!
 grungepuppy wrote:
Amazingly uninventive chord progression. Sorry, just playing the same note over and over again doesn't really make a song. Couple that with the tediously boring vocal delivery and we have another steaming pile from this crappy band.
 

"just playing the same note over and over again doesn't really make a song"  Is this a rule of musical composition I'm not aware of? As on previous albums, Elbow once again defies expectations. You either get it or you don't. Your eloquent crappy band comment would place you squarely in the later column.


Hmmm...  I like it.

 debobasu wrote:
Sounds like the doves, no?
 
Yes, and that is not a complement to either band.


Well, after more than ten listens to the album this song is a clear 10 for me.
Really liking this track. I agree it takes a couple of listens.

The album is very good too, a relief as following up on The Seldom Seen Kid was always going to be difficult. 

 
elbow album and songs are always slow growers.. But when it clicks, it clicks!
Interesting sound. Nice rhythm. Droning, vocals. Nice instrumental bridge. A silid 5.
Sounds like the doves, no?
Amazingly uninventive chord progression. Sorry, just playing the same note over and over again doesn't really make a song. Couple that with the tediously boring vocal delivery and we have another steaming pile from this crappy band.
Bill, thanks for bringing us so much of the new album.  I like it so far, though this isn't my favorite.

Elbow is so hit-and-miss for me, which is what prevents me from becoming a fan.
Another one!  Nice.  There's something very cool going on with the bass line in this.

My favorite track off the new record. {#Smile}
Love this record! Took a couple listens, but now a large part of it is stuck in my head every day (in a good way).

Need to put Lippy Kids in the playlist, too!