Interpretations:Birds Fly

• Song
• Lyrics
• Interpretations
• Credits
• Guitar Tab
• Bass Tab
• Chronology

Interpretation 1

I had a thought that this song might be about TMBG themselves, and how people often see their songs as happy, cheerful, and funny, when there's actually a dark quality to a lot of them. The only problem is that I don't know whether people had that attitude toward TMBG back when the song was written. It definitely has a "turning good things into bad things" vibe, though. The birds are flying...but they end up on the guy's windshield. The good-luck charm turns out to be some kind of identification tag left by the police. And so on. --VoVat 18:21, February 4, 2005

I agree that the narrator is a criminal of some kind. The opening line of "Birds Fly" is quickly turned sour by the words "Into my windshield" in a clear indication that this isn't a pleasant individual. I also think that 'this good luck charm' is handcuffs and the line "A microscope reveals the scope of my very best intentions" shows that this is clearly not an innocent or wrongfully accused individual. But maybe it's just me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.52.151.134 (talk • contribs) 01:37, October 2, 2008

Interpretation 2

I always thought that the "good luck charm hanging off of my arm" referred to handcuffs. The narrator therefore must be accused of some crime. Expression by way of words or poetry is definitely a central issue here. I believe the song is meant to be about someone who engages in irresponsible self-expression - protected (to an extent) by the first amendment, yet undeniably ill-natured (which would certainly describe the narrator's character if the "tiny light" of a "microscope" spans the entirety of the his goodness). Consider groups like NAMBLA, white supremicists, etc. These are people whose views may be odious, but they are likewise protected.

Yet there is the suggestion that others view the narrator as a well-natured person. Someone must be on the other end of that microscope. By chance, the microscope has happened upon the "only nice part" of the narrator, giving us the illusion that he's a noble character.

The question is, who's looking? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.142.195.231 (talk • contribs) 00:35, February 10, 2005

The public. They see him as a good guy, because he's RATHER FAMOUS! But they don't see his dark side. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.226.117.1 (talk • contribs) 09:00, July 6, 2005

Interpretation 3

This might be on the same lines a "Racist friend" someone who deludes themselves into thinking they're an ok person, when really they just aren't. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.112.113.1 (talk • contribs) 17:37, November 29, 2010