The Birdhouse

I like the idea of birdhouses. On the one hand, you give them a little safe place, away from danger. If they like it, they move in and you have a personal alarm clock and orchestra. They’re annoying sometimes, but at the end of the day how can you not be happy when you hear them?

On the other hand, I like their symbolism. There’s a song called Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might be Giants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhjSzjoU7OQ

It is a story told from the perspective of a night light shaped like a blue canary. The overall message is to ‘make a little birdhouse in your soul’ where it would rest forever after the child will not need it anymore. I could go on for days about this song, it is so complex: childhood, memories, growing up, fear, and even religion or mythology are referenced.

Here’s the story of the little birdhouse in my yard, built by my Dad:

„COVID-19 pandemic. It’s already week 5 of self-isolation… After reaching the conclusion that all this pandemic might have been started by aliens (either because they are testing how fast they can spread a virus that changes human DNA, either they want to see how we would react to a lockdown when they’d invade us, or both) I thought it’s not right to dive too deep into conspiracy theories. What should I do? What should I do? As I look out the window I see some birds, with amber tails, looking for a place to build a nest and they’re also chirping. So I started working on a little house for them. I hope they will like the accommodation.”

….

(The lyrics and some facts can be found here https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/they-might-be-giants/birdhouse-in-your-soul)

I'm your only friend

I'm not your only friend

But I'm a little glowing friend

But really I'm not actually your friend

But I am

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch

Who watches over you

Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it:

Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet

Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I have a secret to tell

From my electrical well

It's a simple message and

I'm leaving out the whistles and bells

So the room must listen to me

Filibuster vigilantly

My name is blue canary

One note, spelled L-I-T-E

My story's infinite

Like the Longines Symphonette

It doesn't rest

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch

Who watches over you

Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it

Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet

Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I'm your only friend

I'm not your only friend

But I'm a little glowing friend

But really I'm not actually your friend

But I am

There's a picture opposite me

Of my primitive ancestry

Which stood on rocky shores

And kept the beaches shipwreck-free

Though I respect that a lot

I'd be fired if that were my job

After killing Jason off

And countless screaming Argonauts

Bluebird of friendliness

Like guardian angels it's

Always near

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch

Who watches over you

Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it

Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet

Make a little birdhouse in your soul

While you're at it

Leave the nightlight on

Inside the birdhouse in your soul

Not to put too fine a point on it

Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet

Make a little birdhouse in your soul