The saying “bird is the word” originated in the 1963 song “Surfin’ Bird” by the American rock band The Trashmen. The song features repetitive lyrics about a bird being “the word”, leading to it becoming a popular cultural catchphrase and meme in subsequent decades. In this article, we will explore the history behind the song, its rise to popularity, and its enduring presence in pop culture. Quick answers:
– The saying comes from the 1963 song “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen.
– It became popular due to the song’s repetitive lyrics about a bird being “the word”.
– “Surfin’ Bird” experienced a revival in the late 1990s, cementing it as a cultural catchphrase.
The Original Song
“Surfin’ Bird” was released by The Trashmen in 1963 as the B-side to their hit single “Surfin’ Bird”. The Minneapolis garage rock band was inspired by two other songs – “The Bird’s the Word” by The Rivingtons and “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” by The Rivingtons. The Trashmen decided to combine the two songs into one, resulting in the repetitive, somewhat nonsensical lyrics of their new track.
The lyrics “The bird is the word” are sung over and over throughout the song’s three-minute duration. The song also includes references to “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and variations on the lyrics “Well don’t you know about the bird/Everybody knows that the bird is the word”. It is these repetitive lyrics about a bird being “the word” that sparked the popular cultural saying.
Lyrics of “Surfin’ Bird”
Here are some key lyrics from “Surfin’ Bird” that feature the viral “the bird is the word” lines:
A-well-a, everybody’s heard about the bird
B-b-b-bird, b-birdd’s a word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s a word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s a word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird’s a word
Surfin’ bird
Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb, aaah
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow
As you can see, the lyrics are highly repetitive and focus heavily on declaring that “the bird is the word”. This repetition is believed to have helped cement it as a memorable pop culture phrase.
Initial Success and Legacy
“Surfin’ Bird” reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1964. The song gained significant radio airplay despite its bizarre and repetitive lyrics. In the decades since, it has remained a cult favorite and is considered one of the earliest viral meme songs.
Covers of “Surfin Bird” were performed by various punk rock bands like The Cramps in the 1970s and 1980s. This re-introduced the song to new generations, keeping the catchphrase alive in underground music circles. The song experienced a full revival in mainstream popularity in the late 1990s.
Late 1990s Revival
In 1998, “Surfin Bird” was featured prominently in the movie Full Metal Jacket. The Vietnam War film had the soldiers singing the song as a marching cadence. This renewed interest in the track among young viewers.
That same year, the song was also included on the cult comedy TV series South Park. It was performed by character Big Gay Al in the Season 2 episode “I’m a Little Bit Country”.
Finally, the rock band The Vindictives released a punk cover of “Surfin Bird” in 1998. Their version was included on various punk compilation albums and played on rock radio stations.
These three mainstream pop culture references in 1998 re-ignited the song’s popularity and cemented the “bird is the word” saying as an iconic catchphrase. It went from an underground meme to a widely recognized pop culture reference.
Enduring Presence in Pop Culture
Since its revival in the late 90s, “Surfin Bird” and the catchphrase have endured as part of the cultural zeitgeist. Here are some examples of how it continues to influence media today:
Family Guy
In a 2009 episode of the animated comedy Family Guy, the “Surfin Bird” song and lyrics were featured in an extended sequence. The gag had the characters constantly interrupting each other by breaking into sections of the song.
Commercials
The phrase “bird is the word” has been used in various television commercials, including a 2002 ad for Frosted Flakes cereal.
Toys
In 2010, toy company Funko released a “Surfin Bird” vinyl figure to capitalize on the meme status of the song.
Internet memes
The song and lyrics continue to spawn jokes and image macros online. For example, the “loudly and badly singing Surfin Bird” meme involves overlaying the song onto videos for comedic effect.
Cover versions
New cover versions continue to be released, signaling ongoing interest in the track. Artists ranging from death metal bands to ukulele players have put their own spin on “Surfin Bird” for modern audiences.
Why “Surfin Bird” Became a Meme
There are several theories as to why “Surfin Bird” emerged as such an iconic meme decades after its release:
- The nonsensical, repetitive lyrics are easy to memorize and sing along to.
- The song is inherently comical and absurdist.
- It became “so bad it’s good”, gaining an ironic following.
- The minimalist garage rock style gives it a raw, energetic appeal.
- Revivals in the 70s, 80s and 90s re-introduced it to younger generations.
In many ways, “Surfin Bird” is the perfect viral meme – strange enough to be humorous, simple enough to latch onto, and with built-in repetitiveness that makes it unforgettable. The saying “bird is the word” encapsulates these qualities perfectly.
Conclusion
The 1963 song “Surfin Bird” by The Trashmen contains the first known usage of the saying “the bird is the word”. Its nonstop repetition of the phrase within an absurd proto-punk track has helped cement it as a pop culture meme and catchphrase over the past six decades.
Revivals in underground music scenes and eventual mainstream media appearances in the 1990s brought the song back into the public consciousness. Today, “bird is the word” endures across the internet and pop culture as an iconic and humorous viral saying. Whenever it is uttered, it evokes memories of surf rockers chanting inane lyrics that somehow wormed their way into our collective cultural DNA.