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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

"Bird" is British slang for "Girl." One theory is that this song is a scolding by John Lennon of his buddy Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, who loved to brag about his bird - Marianne Faithfull - who was great, green (jealous/young) and could sing. John made it clear that Mick and the Stones wear great but could never ever match up to John and the other Beatles. (thanks, raoul - Amsterdam)

In the 2007 book Can't Buy Me Love, Jonathan Gould makes the case that the song was inspired by a profile of Frank Sinatra by Gay Talese that appeared in the April, 1966 issue of Esquire magazine. "Bird," Talese wrote, "is a favorite Sinatra word. He often inquires of his cronies, 'How's your bird?'" What brought the article to Lennon's attention was a press release sent by Sinatra's PR man that read: "If you happen to be tired of kid singers wearing mops of hair thick enough to hide a crate of melons... 'Tell me that you've heard every sound there is,' crooned the world's greatest kid singer in his enigmatic reply, 'and your bird can swing. But you can't hear me. You can't hear me.'" The original 1966 article, titled "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," can be read in Gay Talese's 2003 collection titled The Gay Talese Reader: Portraits and Encounters. (thanks, Susan - Toronto, Canada)

The signature dual-harmony electric lead guitar parts were played live (without overdubbing) by Harrison and McCartney. Lennon played the rhythm in the "D major" position with the capo on the 2nd fret (to account for the song being in the key of E). John used the 2nd fret capo several times ("Nowhere Man," "Julia," "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" to name a few). (thanks, Barry Kesten - Bellmore, United States)

John Lennon said this was a throwaway song with random words of psychedelia added in designed to sound like it meant something. He considered it one of his worst songs. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

The working title for this was "You Don't Get Me." (thanks, Marcos - Fort Worth, TX)

The double-tracked guitar solo rates in at #69 on the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" list done by Rolling Stone magazine. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

The middle part of the song has one melody, but in three versions. which are bound together with a counterpoint melody on a giutar. Unusually, the sung-melody even has some quarter notes, for example the note behind the word "broken" in "when your bird is broken..." When Lennon finishes the middle part with singing "I'll be around" twice in the same melody, he changes chord when he sings it the second time, without changing the melody. (thanks to Johan Cavalli, who is a music historian in Stockholm)

Comments:

yea julia the beatles nickname was the fab four unfourtunatly ur a dumbass
- derek, shrewsbury, MA

FELLOW APPLESCRUFF! I HAVE FOUND YOU! I should have lived in the 60s. Instead, I had to be born 28 years after this song (*cries*).
- K, nowhere, ON

this is my favourite Beatle song always lifts your spirits on a dull day. Beatles are always there in my life. Applescruff
- linda, london, United Kingdom

there is a version of this song on youtube where they all laugh hysterically (they were stoned at the time)
- mitch, melbourne, Australia

Funny, Julia, I always thought they were the same people...
- chloe, St. Louis, MO

Cool song but I read somewhere that Lennon hated this song, filler he called it.
- Theresa, Murfreesboro, TN

I heard the Fab Four version of "Bird" and didn't like it as well as the Beatles version...
- Julia, Richland, WA

I heard that on September 9, The Beatles Rockband is coming out... I hope that they put this song on there
- Julia, Richland, WA

I absolutely ADORE this song!!!! It's practically my life song!! =)
- Julia, Richland, WA

I agree with Tony from Cleveland. I always thought this was an answer to Dylan's "Corinna, Corrina." I'm reading John Lennon's bio right now, and that scenario seems plausible. I do associate this song with the cartoon, but was it the theme? I thought the theme was just the open strings of a basic guitar tuning, and then a few notes reminiscent of "I Should Have Known Better."
- Linda, North Attleboro, MA

I totally agree with Marcos. Great song!
- Superllama, Tallehase, FL

my bird sings out of tune
- bag, a little yellow island, Neutral Zone

"Lagging" is the result of the 'group tension' they arrived at through constant re-adjustments to each other's sense of rhythm, especially John's. Ringo, also, deliberately plays micro-seconds "too Slow" to nail it all down: this is one of the things that made them sound Different. They WERE different. On purpose, consciously and in their creative process.
- Justin, Boston, MA

The bassline in the final recording is similar to the bassline in taxman however, if you take a listen to the anthology version or type in "and your bird can sing take 2" into YouTube the bassline is much more complicated. The beatles must have beleived that the taxman sounding bass sounded better when the song was played faster as to the slower anthology version. I disagree.
- Woman, Livonia, MI

The unsion twin guitar attack of this song predates Queen and Allman Brothers.
- ModernRocker79, Kearny, NJ

Oh John - how could you say this is one of your worst songs?! I think it perfectly sums up that teenage feeling - you cant hear me, you dont get me. It's too brilliant for words!
- Lennix, hamburg, Germany

As a testimony to how great the Beatles were, this song is over 40 years old and we still listen to them today as if they were still around.
- Rich, Livingston, NJ

Is is just me or is the bass line in this song very similar to the bass in Taxman??
- Chanel, Somewhere, WA

Like so many others here, this is one of my favorites. The lyric is just quirky enough to get you wondering about it, and the different accounts of what it all means...classic Lennon. As for the guitars...George was a master. Regardless of all the hype on McCartney's musical prowess, he didn't have the heart and emotion as an instrumentalist that George conveyed. Nuances abound in the Harrison solo work, especially as he matured. Paul is a wonder, to be sure. Sometimes it's worthwhile to just be wonderful.
- Glenna, Gilbert, AZ

Love the song, especially the guitar solo.
- Rosario, Naples, FL

Revolver is my favorite album they did. But I recently got the Revolver record and this song, "Dr. Robert", and "I'm Only Sleeping" are not on it. Does anyone know why?
- Stephen, Anderson, SC

This has to be one of my favorite Beatles songs. Makes me feel happy! The guitar solos are fantastic and Paul's bass is just amazing! And my understanding is that Lennon didn't like it as much? But anyway The Beatles rock my socks..God bless!
- Stephen, Anderson, SC

I don't know if this is correct but Bob Dylan - Corrina Corrina has a lot to do with a bird singing, and The Beatles were influenced by Bob Dylan. I saw that nobody made the connection with the song, I could definitely see Lennon writing this after hearing Corrina Corrina. I got a bird that whistles, I got a bird that sings. I got a bird that whistles, I got a bird that sings. But I ain' a-got Corrina, Life don't mean a thing.
- Tony, Cleveland, OH

Except that it can't be because when it was written, John did not know Yoko.
- Forrest, Rochester, MN

One of the greatest Beatles moments is between 1:19 and 1:25 of this song.
- Forrest, Rochester, MN

When I read John Lennon's comment that he had no idea what this song was about even though he wrote it, I went over the song with a fine tooth comb---and I figured it out: This is a song in which Yoko is speaking to John.
- Steve, Princeton, NJ

maybe not one of their best songs, but a great one. Paul Weller once said, that it was the best song to play when you came home pissed from the pub :-)
- Peter, Stockholm, Sweden

john lennon is amazing; i love him so much. this is an amzing song,
- kristen, philadelphia, PA

this just might be the best beatles song and the funny thing is how its relatively unknown to casual listeners. both musically and lyrically it represents some of their most complex stuff recorded together. it really reaches out and gets you to pumped up and feeling you can relate to it. whoever thinks srgt peppers was their best album needs to listen to more revolver...
- max, vancouver, Canada

I don't know exactly what the song is about, but I DO know that the origin of this song (at least the title) came from a gift that Cynthia presented to John: a mechanical singing bird in a cage, which John hated.
- michael, Kearny, NJ

Best song on Revolver, unless you have the American version, whereas it was put onto Yesterday and Today, a purely American make. Everytime I listen to this song, I am left lingering, I feel like it should be a little bit longer, but what else could there be? Its so good the way it is.
- Tristan, Philadelphia, PA

I just posted this song as my song of the day on myspace. i have posted it before. it is not my favorite beatles song all the time. but, every once in a while, it is the best song i have ever heard in my life. the guitar solo is pretty sweet and the harmony is perfect as usual. it just makes me want to point my finger in someones face and say- 'so, there'
- Lauren, Ocala, FL

This is just about my favorite Beatles song. I see I'm not alone. This song doesn't get much air play (like a lot of other Beatle tunes). It's a shame. It's so up and hooky. A great pop song (even if Dr Winston O boogy didn't think so) It's the trangy guitar sound that gits me. The Beatles said they were influenced by the Byrds sound at that time. A few of their songs from 65 and 66 show that. Dr Robert, She Said She Said, I Feel Fine. All favorite Beatle songs of mine. I Really like the Byrds too. Hummm, wonder why?? It's intresting that Paul played the dual lead. He was/is very talented, like the rest of the Beatles. His bass work is amazing along with his other talents
- Mark, Twin Cities Metro area, MN

To all the guitar pickers out there: I'm a pro guitarist/record producer, my life's passion is playing The Beatles songs. And the more I play, the more I appreciate the genious of King George! As Michael from Kearny stated, these are two 6's, no 12 (sorry, Davy); and to Nessie, who feels the riffs are lagging and hurried, I agree, but "atrocious" NOT! remember, these boys practically ran thru the studio, playing live (no punch-in/punch-out) knocking out several songs a day - it's sad they didn't take the time to perfect anything; the TAXMAN took over 90 PERCENT of their earnings and they were actually suffering financially as they conquered America! The most incredible thing about George is that he was NINETEEN years old when he created arguably some of the greatest guitar music ever recorded!
- Phillip, Fresno , Ca, CA

I want to add something re the comments about Joe Walsh and our fellow poster Jerry619 learning these riffs, I believe you guys for sure, I recently attended a show by the band "Tribute To 1964" , Rolling Stone Magazine calls them the greatest Beatles tribute band in history, I WAS BLOWN AWAY ... These British guys have been touring for 23 years, 140 shows a year, they play every Beatles song thru Revolver EXACTLY like the record; and they play the exact identical instruments , including the Vox 100 watt amps, the string guages, capos, drumsticks, and microphones. Their George-clone played so well he got ovations after every lead break! When he stomped the fuzztone and played "Your Bird" singlehandedly the audience was so blown away he got a standing screaming ovation! I left that show wanting to sell my vintage Teles, Strats and LesPauls and replace them with Rics and a Gretsch! I urge all Beatles fans to see this band, you will NEVER see anyone nail the exact Beatles sounds anytime, anywhere, I'll guarantee!! Kristina and Sylvia, I agree with your statements... you have excellent taste!
- Phillip, Fresno , Ca, CA

I was introduced to this song by my brother, the first time i heard it i thought it was great, but then it got annoying.But i do like listing to it sometimes.
- Trent Simpson, Portland, TN

If I am remembering correctly, this was the theme song for The Beatles' cartoon show (1965).
- Carl, Eugene, OR

No importa tanto la opinión de Lennon acerca de esta canción. Importa más que al publico le gusta, porque no hay duda que es buena y la guitarra de George suena limpia y alegre. Un tema asi le alegra el día o la vida a cualquiera.
- Dardo, Montevideo, South America

I don't paticularly think that it is a great song, but it is ok. I don't think it was half as good as most other songs on Revolver, though.
- Andrea, Midland, MI

I don't agree with what John the Beatles were better than the Stones, I guess its just me, but I personally like the Stones much more than the Beatles.
- Vuk, Toronto, Canada

This is a great power pop song and it has a great guitar sound it was achieved supposedly by using the guitars through a fuzzbox via a leslie speaker.The unison dual harmony guitar is one of the best pre Jimi Hendrix guitar playing I have heard and it's the the type of style that Thin Lizzy would be known for years later example The Boy's Are Back In Town. Sal, Bardonia, NY
- sal, bardonia , NY

I really like this song. Lennon is an awesome singer/songwriter. Too bad the CD got scratched and this song wouldn't go onto my iTunes...
- Emmie, Long Island, NY

Rumor has it Joe Walsh learned how to play the double-tracked guitar by himself, and only after struggling to master it for years and finally managing to do it was he told that it was double-tracked.
- John, Millersville, MD

Robb, Hamburg, NY believe it. Not for the fact that the recording was done that way, but for the fact they never did perform the song after the finished studio version was completed.
- Brian, Sydney, Canada

This song is one of the best in their catologue. Along with 'Golden Slumbers', 'I Saw Her Standing There', 'Here, There and Everywhere', and 'Rain'-they do it for me, and that means a lot coming from me-a very big fan.
- Brian, Sydney, Canada

By far my favorite and the most underrated song which could still pass as indie-rock (listen to Suzanna Hoff's recent interpretation and any Cure song) I'm still impressed that George and Paul pulled off such solo.
- Luis, Laredo, TX

I like this song, even if John (at one time) claimed it was crap.
- Jennifer, Los Angeles, CA

It's not only George playing lead, but also Paul... It is a great guitar solo but most people here don't realize that it's actually two guitars played in harmony, Gearge taking the higher pitched notes and Paul the lower (there's no 12 string guitars here, both are Epiphone 6 string Casinos). And yes, Paul also played bass, which was recorded on the backing track earlier in the session.
- michael, Kearny, NJ

I can see why he may not have liked some of his songs he wrote.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

I remember reading the playboy interview with John Lennon in which he said if he has the chance, he'd go back and re-record every single Beatles song. When he listens to them he just cringes. I suppose it;s a case of the saying "you are your own worst critic"
- Alan, Liverpool, England

I don't know what John thinked what isn't good about this song, because it's a great one. Perhaps not very difficult to understand, but a very nice melody, and the words are also not that bad.
- Bram, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

This is one of my all-time favorite Beatles songs - I vividly remember it being used over the opening credits of the Beatles animated TV series, at least during its syndication in the late 60's. It is incomprehensible to me that Capitol Records left this song, "Dr. Robert", and "I'm Only Sleeping" off the US Revolver release, because they make it the masterpiece that it truly is.
- Paul, Sacramento, CA

also this is from Revolver. Yesterday and Today is a BS American album released to so that the record company could make more money by splitting up British albums into more American albums.
- Josh, Plainview, NY

If you are looking to buy a book telling the meaning or origins of the lyrics of The Beatles songs, check what the book says about And Your Bird Can Sing. If the explanation says the song is about a bird rather than a girl, don't waste your time or money with the book. The author clearly doesn't know what he/she is writing about.
- Steve, Fenton, MO

Don't believe everything you hear about John not liking his own Beatles compositions. As George Martin once said, John "changed his opinion more often than he changed his socks." And in some of his interviews, if someone else criticized his work (e.g. Jagger), he was quick to defend it. Also the 1970 interview was in Rolling Stone mag, and the Playboy one was in 1980.
- Jerry, Portland, OR

this song is awsome this is why the beatles are the greatest band of all time look at the two guitars playing apart from eachother yet sounding so together then listen to mccartnys bass showing why he is the best bass player of all time hes all over the place on this song and yet sounding so together i can play the lead guitar part on this with my fender stratocaster and a delayed pedal its not two guitars like the song facts state,harrison is just working the pedal very well
- jerry619, san diego, United States

This song always makes me feel happy, whenever I hear it.
- lauren, some place, DE

I'm not sure why John hates it. It really is a beatiful song. How could they play this live which Harrison Mccartney and Lennon? Who plays bass then? The bass line is important to this song, as it is in many songs, so i can't believe they did that.
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

Looove the song, mostly because of George's awesome guitar solo. But what I am REALLY annoyed about is that Rolling Stone only gave George (or any of the Beatles) ONE place in the whole countdown of '100 Greatest Guitar Solos'! And #69? What's up with that? George had lots of awesome riffs, and they only give him one?! He is so underestimated! That's one of the many reasons I love him so much. I also love the Anthology version when John and Paul are laughing their heads off. It makes me laugh too!
- Sylvia, London, England

Those guitar solos help make the song.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Harrison's guitar solo is what really drew me into this song. It is one of the best solos I have ever heard on a Beatle album. George was really cued in on Revolver.
- Kristina, small town, NE

I think "and your bird can sing" is a song about Phil Specter...and the bird is his wife Ronnie Specter of the Ronettes. It was John in his adolescent style of humor telling Specter...you may be this big producer but you don't get to produce the Beatles. The part about the bird being green, there is a passage in a biography about Ronnie Specter that told that the first time John met Ronnie at the height of Beatles popularity, John tried to put the moves on her and she acted like she wasn't interested and didn't know what he was wanting to do. So from John's point of view, being able to have any woman he wanted...it was Ronnie being "green" rather than her resisting his charms. This coincides with a visit to L.A. where John spent time with Peter Fonda, the inspiration for She Said...She Said. And of course after the Beatles split and John was coming forth with explanations for his Beatle songs, since Specter was producing John's (and George's) solo work and had done some work with the Let It Be album, it would have been awkward, to say the least, to admit the song was about Specter. Steve, Fenton, MO
- Steve, Fenton, MO

I really need to tell everyone that george played the lead part to "And your bird can sing " alone on a 12 string electric rik. thats it .. thankyou. Davy mi.
- davy, G.R., MI

oh by the way. in my opinion. georges solo on "and your bird can sing' really should have rated higher in the top 100 greatst solos . or what ever it is. its a "Masterpiece' like #99...
- davy, G.R., MI

Ohhh- LOVE the bit about Mick! Could be!!! Actually while listening to this song while under the influence (many years ago)it occurred to me that he was singing this song to himself. The lyric is pretty obvious - the first person is telling the second person that although they can afford to surround themselves with material goodies, they can't get him. I think that when John wrote this, the part of his subconcious that was the young, hungry John, held some disdain for what he'd become. "You've got the mansion, the MBE, the psychadelic Rolls, and pretty much anything you want, but you don't have the driven hungry youth. I'm still here, but you'll have to work to find me." I think its a song about regret. I dont think John was ever prepared to talk about songs that held deep meaning for him. When he first started therapy, he was asked my his therapist to look back on all his Beatle lyrics for clues to his feelings about his Mum and Dad. When you look at songs like "Tell Me Why" and "If I Fell" and relate them to his childhood, it becomes very painful. He didn't know it while writing it, but I believe it's all there...
- Charles, Bronxville, NY

"George's solo in this song was number 69 in the 100 Greatest guitar solos Album I AGREE!!" It's a well-written solo, but it's played atrociously. The lead lags the beat, and George and Paul sound like they're frantically trying to catch up. Strangely enough, this is even more true for the Paul Weller cover, but then Paul Weller has always been more of a songwriter than a player. What makes the song outstanding is the intersting chord progression, including fine arpegiation, and the vocal overdubbing, which sqeezes the harmonic possibilities for every last ounce of juice.
- Nessie, Sapporo, Japan

This song isnt about Mick Jagger at all. It was just a song making fun of people who tried to find deep meanings in johns songs, like i am the walrus. Its really just meaningless pyschedelia.
- Jack, St. Paul, MN

I wonder why John didn't like this one. I love it, it makes me really happy :D
- maddie, Knoxville, TN

George's solo in this song was number 69 in the 100 Greatest guitar solos Album I AGREE!! Check it out in this site..http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatest.htm this song rules I just saw it on the beatles album lyrics and the name was catchy and when i heard it it was AWESOME!!
- Jude, Los Angeles, CA

I love this song. George and Paul are AWESOME and it's nice to break away from the usual McCartney Lennon credit.
- Kristen, Aurora, IL

John Lennon only stated once that he disliked this song, and that was during his Playboy interview in 1970 while he was still very bitter about the Beatles. Bear in mind that during this interview John also said that the Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road albums were garbage. Later, years later he met up with Geogre Martin who was very upset with John for those comments. John apologized to George Martin, claiming he was out of his head at that period. Most likely, John attacked this song because Paul and George (Harrison)worked out the intricate harmony guitar work, and this song really showcases Paul and George as very accomplished musicians, much to John's envy later on after the breakup.
- michael, Kearny, NJ

George Harrison kicks butt on this.
- Daniel, Leeds, England

In 1960s England, a "bird" was a girl/woman, but I doubt that's how it's meant here. I've always wondered it the song refers to John's defiance toward recording companies who wanted to "catch him" to record for them, but he didn't want them to limit his creativity and "cage him like a bird" so to speak.
- Jo, Toronto, Canada

i love the version on the anthology!! when they are all cracking up! it makes me so happy when they laugh! cuz they are all such charming boys, and if they do anything it makes me happy! they are a brilliant guys, who can make anyting sound good
- erin lennon, Toronto, Canada

I dont understand why john considers this one of his worst. Its a beatiful song with great harmony. Its one of my favourite Lennon compositions.
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

I like the guitar intro.
- Loretta, Liverpool, England

Anthology 2 has a version where the singers keep cracking up (perhaps they were stoned). The music's different in that version, also - sounds a bit like The Byrds. I know John said he never liked the song, but it's one of my favorite songs of all time by any band. Great guitar work, great vocals, and I love the lyrics.
- David, Lansing, MI

It's a metaphor or something. The "and your bird can..." is basically saying "and you've got all this stuff you think is important". He's saying "you have all this stuff you think is important, but you're not paying attention to me- when your material posessions leave you, I'll be here."
- Martin Bonica, Sterling, VA

i dunno if i'm being a little naive here or not, but could someone tell me what this 'bird'is? Revolver Rocks!
- Natasha, Chico, CA

Irish singer/songwriter, David Kitt, does a great cover of this on his latest album, the black and red notebook. Well worth checking out - www.davidkitt.com
- Helen, Dublin, Ireland

This is one of the few Beatles songs that's great to drive to. Pure fun. I read somewhere that Paul and John don't even remember recording this song...any veracity to this statement?
- RJ, Rockville Centre, NY

great song. it's definitely one of the most underrated songs by the Beatles.
- Marcos, Fort Worth, TX