Clipped wings, I was a broken thing/
Had a voice, had a voice but I could not sing.

Sia knocks out the anthem songs like no other. Sia’s regular mixes are amazing, but I enjoy her acoustic performances more in almost every instance. Perhaps the dance mixes sell better and to a wider audience. I really enjoy just hearing her on a piano. Her voice is one of the most unique in modern music. Perhaps there is a place for each in your playlist.

In “Bird Set Free”, Sia celebrates the freedom from a dysfunctional relationship. She was held back…and she still struggles to fly even though she is free from the cage of the relationship. She is realizing that being in a bad relationship eats you up inside.  You begin to question your self-worth. Perhaps you even want to die. But now she is free! And she wants to live. And sing. She doesn’t care if it is offkey—at least she is singing, and she is singing for herself.

Sia’s piano work in “Bird Set Free” is simple, unique and very recognizable in the intro and verses. It changes into a more standard rhythm during the chorus. Her vocal improvisations sound like a bird excitedly singing after being set free from a cage.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Sia is that she is the only musical artist—male or female—who is more prolific in her late thirties and forties than her teens and twenties. Almost every artist is done with writing new songs at forty…relevant songs anyways. There really is no comparison to her in this regard. The closest comparison I can come up with is Elton John, but even he did his best work when he was younger.

Bird Set Free Lyrics

Clipped wings, I was a broken thing
Had a voice, had a voice but I could not sing
You would wind me down
I struggled on the ground, oh
So lost, the line had been crossed
Had a voice, had a voice but I could not talk
You held me down
I struggle to fly now, oh

But there’s a scream inside that we all try to hide
We hold on so tight, we cannot deny
Eats us alive, oh it eats us alive, oh
Yes, there’s a scream inside that we all try to hide
We hold on so tight, but I don’t wanna die, no
I don’t wanna die, I don’t wanna die, yeah

And I don’t care if I sing off key
I find myself in my melodies
I sing for love, I sing for me
I shout it out like a bird set free
No, I don’t care if I sing off key
I find myself in my melodies
I sing for love, I sing for me
I’ll shout it out like a bird set free

I’ll shout it out like a bird set free
I’ll shout it out like a bird set free
Now I fly, hit the high notes
I have a voice, have a voice, hear me roar tonight
You held me down
But I fought back loud, oh

There’s a scream inside that we all try to hide
We hold on so tight, we cannot deny
Eats us alive, oh it eats us alive, oh
Yes, there’s a scream inside that we all try to hide
We hold on so tight, but I don’t wanna die, no
I don’t wanna die, I don’t wanna die, yeah

And I don’t care if I sing off key
I find myself in my melodies
I sing for love, I sing for me
I shout it out like a bird set free
No, I don’t care if I sing off key
I find myself in my melodies
I sing for love, I sing for me
I’ll shout it out like a bird set free

written by Sia

September, I remember/
A love once new has now grown old.

“April Comes She Will” is similar to Zeppelin’s The Rain Song in that Simon writes about the lifespan of a relationship in terms of the seasons—more specifically the months of the year. Simon notes how his beloved’s moods seem to change each month as the months go by, eventually leading to the end of the relationship.

The lyrics of “April Come She Will” are simple and powerful, and the song is very short—it comes in at under two minutes. This is one song that I wish Simon would have extended by another minute if it was in any way possible. The melody is so tender and beautiful it hits you and then the song is over, and it is gone.

The lead vocals are sung by Garfunkel while Simon plays the guitar. They are an amazing duo. Garfunkel may have the best male voice I have ever heard. Paul’s is not bad either, but it is just not Garfunkel’s. You may have heard this song in The Graduate. If you haven’t, do yourself a favor and check it out. Simon and Garfunkel do the entire soundtrack to one of the best movies of all time.

April Come She Will Lyrics

April come she will.
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain.
May, she will stay,
Resting in my arms again.

June, she’ll change her tune.
In restless walks she’ll prowl the night.
July, she will fly.
And give no warning to her flight.

August, die she must.
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold.
September I’ll remember,
A love once new has now grown old.

Songwriters: Paul Simon

Bye, bye, baby, it’s been a sweet love/
Though this feeling I can’t change.

Lynyrd Skynyrd were the bad boys of southern rock in the early 70s; “Free Bird” was their opus. If you like guitar solos, freedom and jamming, this is probably a song that is at the top of your list of greatest songs.

They felt that their signature sound was due to their three lead guitarists, though it is obviously due to lead singer Van Zant’s unique voice. Lynyrd Skynyrd is another band that would die prematurely due to a tragic airplane crash at the height of their fame.

Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” is about a man apologizing to a woman for leaving her, because he is like a bird and is born to be free. He feels sorrow, and hopes the girl will remember him, but he knows his nature and he knows that it is time for him to move on. He takes complete responsibility…but he can’t and won’t change–he is not a one-woman man..

The guitars in “Free Bird” are amazing but the most outstanding part is the vocal. Both the verse and chorus are great melodies and they are sung perfectly by Van Zant. He is sad but not devastated. We know he will be ok tomorrow. We can tell he loves this woman, but he loves women more; and he will probably be with a new one tomorrow.

Free Bird Lyrics

If I leave here tomorrow,
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now.
Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
And this bird you can not change.
And this bird you can not change.

Lord knows, I can’t change.
Bye, bye, baby, it’s been a sweet love-
Though this feeling I can’t change
But please don’t take it so badly.
Cause Lord knows I’m to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now.
And this bird you’ll never change.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
And this bird you can not change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.
Lord help me, I can’t change.
Lord, I can’t change.
Won’t you fly high, free bird, yeah.

Songwriters: Allen Collins / Ronnie Van Zant