Source
r/thebeachboys•
PintoKey

Little Bird Is Amazing

One of the most satisfying pieces of music I've ever heard. I can't even count how many times the key seamlessly modulates, I didn't even notice on first listen (to be fair I was fucking blitzed at the time lol). Dennis is just so brilliant, though I imagine Brian was right next to him as the song was written.

My favorite part(s) are the birds' response to Dennis' request for them to sing a song where they do the little "na na na na na na" counterpoint.

I also think the chord resolution at "gave me one loving look and told me not to worry about my liiiiiife" is just sublime.

Friends as a whole marries simple and wholesome subject matter with deceptively complex and nuanced arrangements. That's why it's my favorite of theirs, at least right now.

I really want to just bottle the essence of this song though, so I think I may try my hand at like a musical analysis of it (which I've never actually done before lol, if someone else has I'd love to see it.)

Posted Mar 13, 2020, 1:12 AM UTC

7526
RexandStarla4EverGood Vibrations•

It's my favorite song off that album I think. I really like the lines "Dawn, bird's still gone. Guess I'll go mow the lawn." Just strikes me as a particularly absurdist line for some reason, which I enjoy.

17
twopointsmakealineI don't know where, but she sends me there•

I agree! It’s actually “gave the worm another look and told me not to worry...” though.

12
theapiankwaad•

Always thought it was “gave a warm and loving look”

11
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

It is warm and loving, much clearer on the live versions. I also initially thought 'worm another' and it's honestly a much better lyric, despite being a mishearing.

Gave a worm another look = a statement about how nothing really matters and we're all just creatures fulfilling our evolutionary function.

Gave a warm and loving look = getting smiled at by a fish

12
[deleted]•

damn this is a good comment thanks!

2
twopointsmakealineI don't know where, but she sends me there•

What’s your source on this? Everywhere I’ve looked says worm

1
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

Online lyrics are user submitted and can be wrong (especially as Friends didn't come with a lyric sheet and never has to my knowledge).

Listen to the live recordings from the 1968 set. You can clearly hear the 'L' sound in there, especially when they sing it together at the outro.

5
[deleted]•

so... do you like worms?

6
internet-handle-1985•

Don't forget, Brian had an uncredited contribution to the song...the bridge is actually Child Is The Father Of The Man.

8
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

Also the verse progression is the same as Surf's Up's verse but the changes are doubled in speed.

Fwiw, Kalinich claimed in a YouTube comment that Brian also wrote the 'Where's my pretty bird' part. So really it might be 50/50 Brian and Dennis.

8
frumpledobre•

Kalinich elaborated on that in ESQ, the lyrics in that part are Brian's as well as the music. Sounds like Dennis originally had something pretty similar to Be Still, then Brian touched up the melody, added both bridge sections and the tag, arranged it and co-produced it with Dennis.

3
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

So maybe even 60/40 writing credit in Brian's favour or more, considering even the verse was roughly based on Surf's Up.

3
[deleted]•

Oh yes I recall reading that! It's subtle but that oboe(?) gives it away.

3
frumpledobre•

Trumpet with a Harmon mute!

5
[deleted]•

genius thanks

2
internet-handle-1985•

And the drum pattern and bass line...

0
[deleted]•

Of course it's all there lol, it just didn't click at first for me cause the lyrics and vocal melody were different.

Sorry if I'm coming across as thick.

2
internet-handle-1985•

Nah, you look skinny to me. /s

1
BenderSimpsonsHeroes and Villains•

I think the bass part is one of the most simple yet effective ones in a beach boys song

7
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

The syncopated root note in the verse is actually taken from the verse of Surf's Up.

8
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

A musical analysis would definitely be interesting. The chords aren't that sophisticated in and of themselves, usually just looping between two chords - but the fact that those chords change so often keeps it moving.

I do like that resolution to the major 9th chord on 'bout my life'. Same chord as on 'Anna Lee the heal-aaaah' - Brian was obviously digging it at the time.

7
CleverNickHerecool water is such a gas•

That major 9th makes me so happy!

1
only-a-northern-songWild Honey•

I checked and I'll correct myself - it seems to be sus2 rather than maj9 in both instances. Mostly a semantic difference, but I don't hear a major 7th in either stack so it wouldn't strictly be called a 9th.

1
CleverNickHerecool water is such a gas•

I will bow to your ear, and ask if it's switching from a minor to a major feel at that point. Something about the transition is really exciting.

ETA: meaning in Little Bird, not ALtH

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
MesaVerde87•

The live version of "Little Bird" is badass.

1
Dont__Lets__StartDennis Wilson•

One of my favorite songs ever (from my favorite Beach Boy, Dennis.)

1