What is the meaning of the bird is the word

Pop Culture dictionary

[burd iz th uh wurd]

Published March 19, 2018

What does bird is the word mean?

Bird is the word is a reference to the main lyric of the 1963 hit single “Surfin’ Bird” by the Trashmen, notably featured in the plot of a 2008 episode of the cartoon Family Guy.

Where does bird is the word come from?

wimpy kid

In their 1963 single “Surfin’ Bird,” surf-rock garage band The Trashmen sing repeatedly:

“A well a don’t you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A well a bird, bird, b-bird’s the word.”

The song was inspired by two contemporary songs by the doo-wop group The Rivingtons: “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “Bird is the Word.” The bird refers to a dance craze in the 1960s. The Trashmen noticed the two songs sounded alike, so they mashed them together in a live performance. A DJ at the show brought them into the studio to record the mashup under the title “Surfin’ Bird.”

While The Trashmen’s inspiration for “Surfin’ Bird” is well-documented, the exact origin and meaning of the saying bird is the word is less clear. Bird has carried many slang connotations throughout its history, from “prostitute” to “the middle finger.” In the context of the song, and in subsequent contexts, bird is the word characterizes something as good, cool, or new and revolutionary.

The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird” peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts, later inspiring fun or ironic covers by popular performers from The Ramones to Pee-wee Herman. The song, and phrase, rose to new prominence in 2008 when it was featured on an episode of animated TV show, Family Guy.

In the “I Dream of Jesus” episode of Family Guy, the main character Peter Griffin hears “Surfin’ Bird,” his favorite song from childhood, playing from a jukebox at a 1950s-themed diner. The owners plan to throw away the vinyl record, but Peter takes it home with him instead. He becomes annoyingly obsessed, crafting conversations to end with the song as the punchline. He dances and sings to the song at every opportunity and even films a commercial based around the song. His dog Brian and baby Stewie destroy the record in hopes that it will curb Peter’s obsession, to no avail.

Examples of bird is the word

Hi, I’m Peter Griffin. According to Gallup Polls one in 12 Americans is unaware that the bird is the word. I dream of an America where everybody knows that the bird is the word.

@JDFXs, February, 2018

Bird is the word for residents in the Coeur d’Alene area this month…After just a week of breaking the record amount of bald eagles counted on Lake Coeur d’Alene, the record was broke again Thursday.

Tasha Cain, KREM, December, 2017

«The box has everything they need to make a Thanksgiving dinner, so it’s a little different than your average food box, and a lot of our families that we serve have really, really big families, so a turkey goes a long way,» Nicole Pena said…Even though right now bird is the word, Nicole says they hope their help can extend beyond the Thanksgiving table.

Marcy Jones, KSAZ, November, 2017

Who uses bird is the word?

The vast majority of contemporary usage of bird is the word is a direct reference to either the contagiously but obnoxiously repetitive lyrics of the original song or, more so, to the Family Guy episode, which mocks its infectious repetition. Much common usage of the phrase mirrors Peter’s jokes from the popular Family Guy episode, with people contriving conversations to deliver bird is the word as the punchline.

Bird is the word is also used in wordplay. For instance, articles about New York Yankees player Greg Bird pun on his last name: “Yankees fans already know that Greg Bird is the word.” The 2017 film Lady Bird also invited the connection: “Lady Bird is the word this awards season.”

Food writers and restaurant critics also use the phrase bird is the word when describing a delicious dish that contains chicken or other poultry. Writing about actual birds (e.g, bird-watching, avian research) may also use the recognizable phrase.

Note

This is not meant to be a formal definition of bird is the word like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is
rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of bird is the word
that will help our users expand their word mastery.

The Trashmen
Surfin’ Bird/Artists

What is the meaning of the bird is the word?

Bird has carried many slang connotations throughout its history, from “prostitute” to “the middle finger.” In the context of the song, and in subsequent contexts, bird is the word characterizes something as good, cool, or new and revolutionary.

Is Surfin Bird a real song?

“Surfin’ Bird” is a song performed by American surf rock band the Trashmen, containing the repetitive lyric “the bird is the word”. The song was released as a single in 1963 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Trashmen also recorded an album named after the track, released two months later.

Do you know about the bird family guy?

Family Guy – Bird is the Word! “Surfin’ Bird” is performed by the surf rock band The Trashmen. The song is played on a jukebox while the Griffins are visiting the Nifty Fifties Diner; Peter reveals that “Surfin’ Bird” was his favorite song from his childhood and begins dancing.

What does bird mean in rap?

Birds means a large amount of cocaine. The term “Bird” and/or “Bird” has been used by Migos, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Future, Young Thug, French Montana, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more rappers.

What episode does Peter sing bird is the word?

I Dream of Jesus
I Dream of Jesus

“I Dream of Jesus”
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 2
Directed by	Mike Kim
Written by	Brian Scully
Featured music	“Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen

What is the study of birds called?

Ornithology, a branch of zoology dealing with the study of birds.

How do birds sound in words?

tweet/twitter/cheep/chirp = when birds are making short, high sounds. shriek/cry = a very loud, piercing sound made by a bird. hoot = the deep sound made by an owl. caw = the sound made by a crow (sounds like “AWW!

When did Bird is the word come out?

2016
Surfin’ Bird/Released

Can anyone understand Brian?

Brian and Jillian are the only adults that seem to fully understand what he’s saying; however there have been occasions when other characters have evidently understood him. Brian can always understand him though, and they often have conversations between themselves, including musical numbers, arguments and bad advice.

Do ornithologists kill birds?

It is hoped that ornithologists will remember that, however important they might think it is to kill a bird for what- ever lofty reason they put forward, birds do not belong to orni- thologists, and they have no prescriptive right to kill them.

Is someone inside Big Bird?

Big Bird was originally designed by a drawing from Jim Henson and built by Kermit Love in 1969. The Big Bird performer is completely enclosed within the costume, and extends his right hand over his head to operate the head and neck of the puppet.

Is it OK to touch baby birds?

The best rule of thumb if you find a baby bird or any animal infant is just to leave it alone. In most cases, the parents are nearby and may be waiting for you to leave the area. However, if you do inadvertently happen to touch a bird’s egg or nest, rest assured that your scent alone won’t cause the parents to flee.

Who wrote Bird is the word song?

Al Frazier
Carl WhiteSonny Harris
Surfin’ Bird/Composers

What season is bird is the word?

Episode no. “I Dream of Jesus” is the second episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on October 5, 2008.

What are baby birds called?

hatchling
A newborn bird is called a hatchling. It is mostly or entirely naked, and is totally helpless. Hatchlings stay in the nest and cannot walk or perch. Nestlings are older than hatchlings, but are still in the nest and can’t walk well or perch.

Do you know that the bird is the word?

Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word! A-well-a… A-well-a don’t you know about the bird? Well, everybody’s talking about the bird! A-well-a bird… Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb… [retching noises]… aaah! Well don’t you know about the bird? Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word! Loading…

When did the song the bird is the word come out?

This song was, in fact, taken almost entirely from from The Rivington’s tracks “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird is the Word”. It was released in 1963 as a single and gained mainstream success, topping out at #4 on the Billboard Top 100.

When did the Trashmen Surfin Bird is the word 1963?

The Trashmen – Surfin Bird – Bird is the Word 1963 (RE-MASTERED) (ALT End Video) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) – YouTube This one had to be done. This is the Alternate Ending, because I liked the Dance that he does at the end. I know it’s a Comedian. This one had to be done. This is the Alternate Ending, because I liked the Dance that he does at the end.

Where did the song Surfin Bird come from?

“Surfin’ Bird” has become regarded as a protopunk standard, was covered by the Ramones, appeared in the films Full Metal Jacket and Pink Flamingos and was popularized by an episode of Family Guy.

What is The bird is the word?

When the bird is infact the word

brian: yo peter you know any words?
Peter: bird is the word

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The bird is the word — video

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The bird is the word — what is it?

a mockary of the united states governement joe biden is destroying the US governement with his policies and the death of osama been lauden is the worst trajedy the world has ever faced

I bird is the word YOU bitch

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What does «The bird is the word» mean?

Person 1: «Bird is the word.»
Person 2: «Word.»

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The bird is the word — what does it mean?

A fact expressed through song by Peter Griffin.

Everybody knows that the bird is the word,
B-b-b-bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word

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The bird is the word — meaning

probably the greatest card game of all time in which you run around in a circle screaming «bird is the word» over and over again while everyone else makes bird calls towards you. this game also involves bird offs which can get quite intense if necessary. PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

A: you got the bird!!
B: BIRD IS THE WORD BIRD IS THE WORD
A: ka kaw ka kawww

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The bird is the word — definition

Peter:A-well-a everybody’s heard about the bird
B-b-b-bird, bird, bird, bird is the word
Meg: NO U
Chris: I LIEK MUDKIPZ

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The bird is the word — slang

The subtitle to a classic song by the Trashmen, titled «Surfin’ Bird.»
Most people had never heard of it prior to a 2008 Episode of Family Guy, in which Peter Griffin could not stop listening to, and singing along with the song.

«Don’t you know about the bird?»
«Yeah, everybody knows that the bird is the word.»

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The bird is the word

peter griffin’s favorite song

peter griffin: have you heard about the bird? A-well-a, everybody’s heard about the bird
Bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well, the bird is the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well, the bird is the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well, the bird is the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, don’t you know about the bird
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, everybody’s heard about the bird
Bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, don’t you know about the bird
Well, everybody’s talking about the bird
A-well-a, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a, bird
Suuuuuuuur-fiiiiiiin’ Biiiiiiiiiiiiird
Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbadffasjdaiofjawcniszfjnisjnxcsijgszcf
akjnzkgluxvdgncasnrdvgnuvdkzfcsnflvzkd◊gnvlshrzvdgckszlazbflnbxcgnf
lsxudczxhagunhuighcuidufdzkxhdfckdsnzCIFlnmsnugnisdzvncxaaaaaaaaaa
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa

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The bird is the word

The bird is the word, it’s just how it is.

«Do you know.. that the bird is the word?»
«What..?»

«A-well-a everybody’s heard about the bird
B-b-b-bird, b-birdd’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, bird is the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is the word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird is the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is the word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well-a don’t you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word
A-well-a-bird, bird, b-bird’s the word, a-well-a
A-well-a everybody’s heard about the bird
Bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird’s the word
A-well, a bird, bird, bird, b-bird’s the word»

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The bird is the word

Player1: Hey have you heard the word?
Player2: What word?
Player1: That the bird is the word that the bird is the word that the bird is the word.

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“Brian, DON’T!”

Bird is the Word is a splinter group from the Prostestant-Reformist Church. They believe that Jesus reincarnated in the form of a bird in 1863 A.D. in Pella, Iowa. The church they founded is based on the teachings of the Holy Bird. Joining the cult of the Bird is only possible by overcoming several trials including worshipping pidgeons and jumping from a hilltop wearing a chicken costume, because the Almighty Bird will save you if you are truly devoted to the Holy Bird. Of course, if the Bird doesn’t save you, the pillows that you’ll land on surely will. They’re not filled with feathers, of course.

Version of Scripture[edit]

When the people from Pella had caught the bird inside the local church, they put grain in His cage to eat. When they returned the next morning, the Bird had not eaten, but rearranged the grains into scribblings. The peasants then sought help into interpreting this language, and still, a certain section of the Cult is studying various patterns in those scribblings. So far none of them has found any pattern or logical interpretation, but maybe someone enlightened enough can shed light on the mystery.

The cult has rejected Scripture since then and replaced it with the scribblings the Holy Bird made during his visit on earth. Between what is mostly (seemingly?) random patterns one sentence can be read, with a little imagination: ‘Have you heard?’

History of the Cult of Bird is the Word[edit]

One day, a certain Irish migrant with the name Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home) was thrown out of his house for coming home drunk again. After being thrown out after midnight, completely shit-housed, he met up with his best friend Alan de Courtlemagne. They decided to go to a cathouse, but found all women of pleasure were on strike for better working conditions.

The two then went to their secret drinking location, hidden deep in the forests of Iowa. They took a bottle of liquor from a hollow tree that they hid there before, and after drinking a couple of gulps He appeared to them.

From the top of the tree, a white dove flew down to the two, and started speaking.

Fear not, for it is I, the Savior, who has come again to save thee. Take me to your local house of prayer, wake the town, and let them know that I have returned!

Stunned, the two kneeled down and sung in prayer. Then they did as the Bird told them and, after almost getting lynched for waking everyone in the dead of night, convinced the town to gather in the church. There the Bird seemed to have stopped talking, but his inspiring presence was enough to convince the town to start the Cult of the Bird is the Word. This name was chosen as a reaction to the cult two forests north; The Cult of the Bird is the Lord.

Now came a question of leadership: who would be the leader of the newly formed Cult? Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home) claimed he should be, because it was his idea to go to their not-so-secret-anymore drinking location, but Alan claimed is was his liquor, and if there hadn’t been any liquor in a hollow tree there, they would have gone to a different secret drinking location.
Alan quickly stopped claiming leadership after Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home) had smashed an axe in Alan’s forehead.
Lastly, Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home)’s wife also claimed leadership, but she was a woman, so nobody listened to her complaints.

After a new church (The Broodnest) had been built on the not-so-secret-anymore drinking location, Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home) proclaimed himself Leader of the Cult of the Bird is the Word, and renamed himself Avian. He decided that the Cult of the Bird is the Lord became too threathening for his own Cult, and the best option for them would be to exterminate them. The Cult took up arms against the other Cult and, due to supreme airforces, completely obliterated the Cult of the Bird is the Lord. Then the peaceful nature of the Cult of the Bird is the Word returned, and they have not waged war ever since. After this complete and utter destruction of his enemy, Avian took on the title of General, to thank the Bird for the granted victory. They renamed the claimed part of the forest Cleaveland, in memory of all the cleaving that was done on that ground.

General Leader Avian then made a trip to Rome, to tell in the Vatican about the Second Coming of Jesus. After he arrived in Antwerp, he added Voyager to his title, to thank the Bird for the save travel. Voyager General Leader Avian then travelled to Rome, but didn’t make it past the tollways in Swiss.
He returned to Amsterdam to take a quick boat back to America. However, he missed the Pewtersailer, the boat he was travelling on, and took up his old drinking habit. During that time, he had visions about Ten Commandments he needed to tell his people about. Thankful for these visions, he added Visionair to his list of titles.

When Visionair Voyager General Leader Avian returned with his new found wisdom, the rest of the Cult had throughlived a great blossoming. The Cult was wealthy and they prospered. To thank the Bird for this, Visionair Voyager General Leader Avian took the title of Prophet.

Later in his life, Prophet Visionair Voyager General Leader Avian sent a letter to the Catholic Church. Because the Church denied the Second Coming, he changed his title to Pope, to rebel against the current Pope. And because he wanted to thank the Bird.

Pope Prophet Visionair Voyager General Leader Avian (abbreviated to Pope, for modesty reasons; and because the title wouldn’t fit on nameplates on statues) gave his position to his son when he died, Pope Avian II, because he was such a family man. Pope Avian II led his people through a great corn crisis and a horrible thunderstorm. When he died Pope Avian III rose to power, and then a subcult started to rebel against the Pope.

The subcult thought Alan should have gained leadership of the Cult instead of the current Pope. The uprising was led by Alan’s eldest grandson, Pierre. During this internal conflict to power, many lives were lost, but Pierre quickly surrendered to the Pope’s overwhelming airforce, and of course, because he was French, and that is what French people do.

Recently, several atheist artists has parodied the Cult. As a reaction to that, the Cult retracted in the Forests of Iowa, their Promised Land, protecting themselves from the dangerous influence of the outer world. After this big retreat, Pope Avian IV renamed himself ‘Great Leader’, and insisted that every member of the Cult would call other members ‘comrades’

The Ten Commandments[edit]

During his visit to Amsterdam Pope Avian I had a vision about the rules the Bird had forgotten to mention during his visit on Earth. He quickly wrote them down, using his own blood because he refused to write with something that holy as a quill.
The Ten Commandments are as follows:

1. The Pope of the Cult of the Bird is the Word is always right.
2. Thou shalt eat only meat and large fruits, so that thou shalt not eat anything of the Bird’s liking.
3. Thou shalt not celebrate Easter.
4. Thou shalt not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.
5. Thou shalt not wear sweaters on a sunny day.
6. Thou shalt force thy women to do the housekeeping.
7. Thou shalt not steal, for I am watching thou.
8. Thou shalt not eat things that move while thou attemptst to eat it, for it will angry the Bird thy Lord.
9. The sentence below is true.
10. The sentence above is false.

Interpretation of the Ten Commandments[edit]

Over several decades, many researchers have studied the Commandments to find their deeper meanings. Listed are a couple of their ideas that are most likely to be true.

The Pope of the Cult of the Bird is the Word is always right.

Most likely a Commandment to avoid uprisings, but it could also refer to the Republican ideas the Popes have propagated.

Thou shalt eat only meat and large fruits, so that thou shalt not eat anything of the Bird’s liking.

Most likely a clarification of Man’s position in life. One only lives to please the Bird.

Thou shalt not celebrate Easter.

A prohibition to avoid placing fake birds as a decoration, what may insult the real Bird. This could also be a Commandment to ensure all hard work on the land would be done and that people were not celebrating during these periods of hard labor.

Thou shalt not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.

This is one of the Commandments that makes Pope Avian I a true Visionair and Prophet. One can only hope to understand a fraction of his farseeing gifts.

Thou shalt not wear sweaters on a sunny day.

Pretty self-explainatory. When it’s sunny, it’s way too warm to wear a sweater.

Thou shalt force thy women to do the housekeeping.

Pretty unnessecary, because everyone was doing that anyway. But this Commandment was probably created to get to the 10. Nine Commandments just sounds stupid.

Thou shalt not steal, for I am watching thou.

This Commandment is for keeping peace and quiet amongst the Cult. One could also say that the Pope only tried to protect his own riches, but this Commandment is more for the greater good.

Thou shalt not eat things that move while thou attemptst to eat it, for it will angry the Bird thy Lord.

Because it is very unhealthy and also disgusting to eat things that move when you attempt to eat it, the Bird has prohibited it to protect His followers.

The sentence below is true. and The sentence above is false.

One can only hope to understand these Commandments. They probably have a very deep meaning we cannot even begin to understand.

Reaction of the Catholic Church[edit]

After Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home) had sent a letter to the Pope to inform him about the second coming of Jesus, the Pope answered by writing that he ‘did not approve of the breaking with the Catholic Church’ and asked ‘to deny the tricks of Satan, and to come back to the Church because birds of the same feather flock together’. He also demanded that, in order to adopt the Cult back in the Church again, ‘some rituals must be banned, for one cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs.’

Peter O’Reilly (may pidgeons fly over his home) was shocked to see the Holy Name used in vain, and reacted to this blasphemic response by renaming himself anti-Pope. Also, in an attempt to prove the Pope wrong, he organized an annual Omelet-Baking Contest in the Cult, but so far, no member of the Cult has managed to actually make an omelet without breaking eggs.

On a side note, the eggs used for the contest are chicken eggs, which are not considered Holy by the Cult, for their lack of Holy Spirit, but mostly for practical reasons.

Controversy[edit]

Recently, a band called The Trashmen had recorded a single called ‘The Bird is the Word’. Despite various threathenings to the address of their wives and mothers, they refused to take the single back. Later, some awful programme has adopted the sacred name of the Cult as a running gag in their episodes. Also, the song ‘Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear’ has causes quite some uprising in the Cult.
Pope Avian IV responded on this blasphemy with an official cult message: ‘It seems today that all you see is violence and movies and sex on tv.’ After that, tv’s were banned from the Cult.
The Cult has also come into disrepute by various bombings on eggnog factories. The Cult denies any bonds with the attackers, even though they have proclaimed to symphatize with heir actions.

• #1

Hi all, i have a problem to translate the idiom «Bird is the word» in French, its not difficult to translate that but what it means exactly ?:

Me -» My son needs me , he’s hungry.»

My friend -» dont you know that the bird is the word?! «

Thank you.

• #2

??? — is he calling you ‘altricial’ ???

My only association with the phrase «bird is the word» is from the old song «Surfin’ Bird» by the Trashmen … (though I confess it was the Ramones version I heard first).

Last edited: Sep 12, 2009

• #3

Oh I see, I think you are right because just before that conversation, we were talking about the movie «Full Metal Jacket» (Surfin’ Bird is the song of that movie)

Thank you very much mgarizona .

• #4

Hi ! I heard this expression several times (in songs, that’s right, but not the one mentionned before), and still wonder the exact signification. Seems like a bit like «that’s really it!», emphasizing on the fact that the thing mentionned got all the archetypal caracteristics of it, but I wonder of this interpretation is accurate.

• #5

Interesting Keridwen. I’ve personally never heard anyone use the expression outside of direct allusion to the song.

As for the phrase as used in the song, it’s easy to understand if you know that «Surfin Bird» by the Trashmen was cobbled together from two older doo-wop songs by a band called The Rivingtons: «Pappa-Oom-Mow-Mow» and «The Bird Is The Word.» The latter song is just one of a thousand «dance songs» from the period saying that there’s a new dance craze sweeping the nation— like the Twist or the Locomotion— this one called «the Bird»

The phrase «the Bird Is The Word» implies «this new dance, ‘the Bird,’ is what everybody is talking about right now, it’s the hot news of the day.

Compare that with a phrase like «What’s the word?» which is something you might saw when you run into a friend instead of «What’s new?»

We recently lost Gil Scott Heron who released «What’s the Word? Johannesburg» in 1975.

• #6

As an example, I can refer to the song «Black Crickets» from D.A.D.
In this song, the harvest is plagued by black crickets threatening the pioneers survival, until a cunning old man had the idea of building a giant nest, suggesting the presence of a giant bird to frighten the pests.
the lyrics then goes:
«They saw the nest the vision occured
And the dogs would wag their tails
Crickets all shouted: «Bird is the word»
The insects hit the trail»

What do you think about it?

• #7

As an example, I can refer to the song «Black Crickets» from D.A.D.
In this song, the harvest is plagued by black crickets threatening the pioneers survival, until a cunning old man had the idea of building a giant nest, suggesting the presence of a giant bird to frighten the pests.
the lyrics then goes:
«They saw the nest the vision occured
And the dogs would wag their tails
Crickets all shouted: «Bird is the word»
The insects hit the trail»

What do you think about it?

I think you shouldn’t look to Danish bands for examples of English usage. Any English-speaker, for example, would have used the word «Locusts» and not «Crickets» in the title of that song. As for «bird is the word» in it? I’m sure they just thought it was funny … has no sense to it that I can see.

• #8

So I suppose I shouldn’t turn to german bands for more examples… though the song «eaglize it» from the Boss Hoss also contains this sentence.

• #10

So I suppose I shouldn’t turn to german bands for more examples… though the song «eaglize it» from the Boss Hoss also contains this sentence.

OK, now you’ve got something to play with:

Take «legalize it»— common cry here for the legalization of marijuana— and turn it into ‘eagle-ize it’ … which would mean to take whatever

it

is (or

we are

) and make eagles out of it: a fine and noble aspiration if you ask me.

You can look at «Bird is the word» here one of two ways: it’s either just a fun reference to a song everyone knows and loves thrown into a song about birds, or it’s used pretty much the same way the Rivington’s used it in the original song. Now that we’ve ‘eagleized’ it, «Bird» is all anyone is talking about, «Bird» is the hot new craze: BIRD is THE WORD! (I suppose you could argue that the same meaning applies, however ridiculously, to the D.A.D. song as well.)

I can’t see the term having any other meaning. With the Rivingtons and Boss Hoss we’re given something to relate «the bird» to, which in turn gives the entire phrase meaning. In examples where you encounter «bird is the word» apropos of nothing, figure it’s just there for fun. Which is to say, it’s used the way the Trashmen used it— as meaningless wordplay— as opposed to how the Rivingtons used it: as a meaningful statement, even if only marketing ballyhoo.