Story Behind The Song

While in the process of learning some new jazz chords in order to expand upon my songwriting capabilities, I stumbled upon the progression that is now the verse of the song and immediately heard in my head an accompanying melody. After recording a bare-bones guitar track, I began experimenting with additional instrumentation to flesh out the song and paired it with some lyrics that I had written some time ago that were inspired by the original "White Bird" that was released in 1969 by It's A Beautiful Day. The lyrics I had written fit together well with the melody I had in mind and a with a little more time and hard work in the studio, my "White Bird" was born and eventually ended up becoming the seventh track on Matthew C. Bauder's, "How To Make A Dime" album.

Song Description

A mellow jazz song about a man's bittersweet reminiscence about a love that has left him, "White Bird" ambles along to a twinkling vibraphone, arpeggiated guitar, lumbering bass and drums, and a mellow horn section.

Lyrics

Saw a white bird by the roadside, wading near the riverbed
The sunlight fading, turning skies to darker shades of red.
And somewhere in a daydream is where you'll find my head
Ever time I see reminders of you dear

The ice cream stand where we first kissed now overgrown with weeds
The dampness of the morning mist brings stiffness to my knees
And stares within the mirror fill my mind with disbelief
Of how long has gone by without you here

But every time this heart of mine just lights up when a when a white bird still appears

A stranger in a new town far away from what we shared
I try to keep my mind upon the work that I must bear
And even though the money's good, I simply just don't care
To nothing in my life do I endear

Your chortled laugh now mingles with the barrooms late night sounds
Our favorite song begins to play so I have another round
And right here in this whiskey glass is where I choose to drown
Another day or week or month or year

But every time this heart of mine just lights up when a when that White Bird fills my ears

Bridge

'Cause even though I know your love for me has died
And there's no hope for your return to me
Those memories of times we shared still make me smile
My White Bird I set free to fly


There's a white bird by the roadside, wading near the riverbed
The sunlight fading, turning skies to darker shades of red.
Forever in a daydream is where you'll find my head
'Cause all I see's reminders of you dear

And every time this heart of mine just lights up when that white bird reappears
Yes, every time this heart of mine just lights up when that white bird reappears