The Bird and The Worm by Owl City Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Whimsical Tale of Affection
Lyrics
Whenever we pretend it’s summer,
Then I’m the worm,
I know the part, it’s such a bummer,
But fair is fair,
If my segments get separated,
I’ll scream
And you’ll be there.
Close your eyes (close my eyes),
(Slide the cotton off of your shoulder)
And feel the shine (feel the shine),
I’m hooked so toss me over,
And cast a line (oh I’ll try),
Oh throw a party and greet my undersea friends (it depends),
As they arrive (if they arrive),
You and I left our troubles far behind (troubles far behind),
But I still have just one more question on my mind,
For all my pals who live in all the oceans and the seas,
With friends like these well, who needs enemies?
Da dat dah da da da da da da dat dah
If I’m your boy,
Let’s take a short cut we remember,
And we’ll enjoy,
Pickin’ apples in late September
Like we’ve done for years,
Then we’ll take a long walk through the corn field,
And I’ll kiss you, between the ears,
If you’re my girl,
Swirl me around your room with feeling,
And as we twirl, the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling,
Will shine for us,
As love sweeps over the room,
Cause we tend to make each other blush (you make me blush)
You and I left our troubles far behind (troubles far behind),
But I still have just one more question on my mind,
For all my pals who live in all the oceans and the seas,
With fronds like these well, who needs anemones?
You’re the bird and I’m the worm,
And it’s plain to see that we were meant to be
We were meant to be
Da dat dah da da da da da da dat dah
If you’re the bird
If you’re the bird
Then I’m the worm
We were meant to be
Owl City, the electronica project that transformed the bedroom recordings of Adam Young into a symphony of synthesizers and wispy vocals, often conjures a dreamy, otherworldly atmosphere in its music. ‘The Bird and The Worm’ stands as one of the glittering jewels in Owl City’s discography—a song that at first listen delights with its catchy tune, but beneath the surface, weaves a rich tapestry of meaning waiting to be unraveled.
On the wings of metaphor and sparkling melodies, Owl City takes us on a joyful journey exploring themes of companionship, love, and the idyllic simplicities of life. It’s a track about contrasts and balance, embracing roles, and finding harmony in differences. Let’s delve deeper into the lyrical labyrinths and uncover the song’s latent profundities.
Symbiosis: A Love Story Told Through Biology
At first blush, ‘The Bird and The Worm’ suggests a playful romp through nature, using animal imagery to tell a tale of companionship. The bird is free, soaring in the sky; the worm, embedded in the earth, less majestic but vital to the ecosystem. It’s this biological symbiosis that serves as a poetic analogy—a dance of give-and-take in relationships, a balance that asserts that differences do not preclude a perfect union but, in fact, can enhance harmony. Such whimsy usage of biology in narrative songwriting is rare, and Adam Young does it with delicate finesse.
The song flits between scenes of shared experiences, the ‘pretend it’s summer’ moment echoing the carefree abandonment in love, while the ‘bummer’ of being the worm highlights the acceptance of less glamorous roles we play for the people we cherish. It is this acceptance that Young expresses as fair—the cornerstone of any loving relationship.
Dive into the Undersea: The Party of Life’s Small Wonders
Adam Young casts a wide net of imagination, diving into an underwater scene that seems to appreciate the small wonders of life. The ‘undersea friends’ represent the diverse and colorful aspects of life that brighten our existence. The celebration of these micro-moments—akin to greeting ‘oceans and seas’ with open arms—is Owl City’s reminder to embrace varied experiences and to find joy in the unconventional.
With the infectious chorus lines, Young instills a sense of curiosity, asking whether ‘with friends like these, well, who needs enemies?’ This rhetorical question might hint at the dark comedy of life’s ironies, suggesting that even in a varied company of odd creatures, one can find solidarity and happiness.
A Nostalgic Shortcut: The Intimacy of Shared Memories
Young seamlessly transitions from the aquatic to autumnal, with lines that speak to the intimacy of shared history. By invoking ‘a short cut we remember’ and the act of ‘Pickin’ apples in late September,’ Owl City taps into the shared human experience of nostalgia. These memories become dalliances imbued with affection and symbolism, painting domestic bliss not as mundane but as the grounding element in love.
The comfort of tradition and repetition—the ‘for years’ sentiment—highlights the comfort and stability that comes with a long-term bond, celebrating the serene beauty of an enduring connection, one that is as cyclical and dependable as the seasons themselves.
Cosmic Love: The Radiance of Romance that Lights Up a Room
One can’t help but sway to the rhythm as ‘The Bird and The Worm’ glides into the couple’s personal galaxy, where ‘the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling’ turn a simple action like swirling around a room into a breathtakingly celestial event. It’s a testament to Young’s ability to find magic in the ordinary and transform a room into a canvas of emotions where love is the artist.
In these lines, love is not just a feeling but an all-encompassing aura that ‘sweeps over the room.’ It’s the kind of unabashed romance that leads to blushing and the ebullient exchange of innocent affection, evoking the bewitching excitement of young love. In this intimate universe, the lovers create, the mundane becomes divine.
Unearthing the Hidden Meaning: Affirmation of a Predetermined Union
In a climactic affirmation, ‘The Bird and the Worm’ heralds a simple truth—that these two creatures ‘were meant to be.’ It encapsulates the song’s spirit, a celebration of predestined love that feels as natural and right as dawn following the darkness. It asserts the design of togetherness as if love itself has intervened in the machinations of fate to pair the bird with the worm.
This destiny is not without its quirks—just as the bird and worm seemingly play out their roles in nature, so too do people in love. In embracing one’s quirks and idiosyncrasies, the song becomes an anthem for anyone who has ever felt that magnetic pull toward another, an invisible thread weaving their stories together into a predetermined tapestry of togetherness.
