Be Like the Blue Bird

Song Meaning

The spoken intro, a grim quote from Dillinger about "darkest just before they turn on the lights," immediately sets a cynical, almost desperate tone. This stark opening is quickly contrasted by the introduction of an "old Australian bush song" that promises to cheer the listener, even in dire circumstances. The speaker, Moon, presents this tune as a proven antidote to feeling "blue." The core tension of the lyrics pits inevitable misfortune against an unwavering, almost defiant optimism. When "disaster is approaching" or one is "headed for the jailer," the advice isn't to fight or flee, but to simply "be like the blue bird and sing." This instruction suggests a radical form of internal resistance, a refusal to let fear manifest physically, urging the listener not to "allow the old face to look paler." The central image, the "blue bird, who never is blue," is a clever paradox that encapsulates the song's message. It's not about a lack of problems, but a chosen response to them. The bird's simple "Tweet tweet, tra-la-la-la-la-la" becomes a powerful, almost primal act of defiance, a melody sustained not out of naiveté, but because the bird "knows from his upbringing what singing can do." Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that resilience is an active, learned practice. Even when "other birdies" might deem one's "efforts are perfectly lousy," the blue bird "sings on and on 'til his troubles are through." This portrays singing not as a passive escape, but as a stubborn, persistent act of self-preservation and hope, an internal melody that outlasts external judgment and hardship.