Left Handed Kisses

April 16, 2016 3:28 PM

Left Handed Kisses a duet between Andrew Bird and Fiona Apple, also a live version on the Ellen show.

[Andrew Bird:] I don't believe everything happens for a reason
[Fiona Apple:] To us romantics out here, that amounts to high treason
[Andrew Bird:] I don't go in for your star-crossed lovers
[Fiona Apple:] In the heart of a skeptic, There's a question that still hovers near

[Andrew Bird:]
For it begs the question
How did I ever find you
Now you got me writing love songs
With a common refrain like this one here, baby

[Fiona Apple:]
And all your left handed kisses
Were just prelude to another
Prelude to your backhanded love song, baby

[Andrew Bird:]
But it begs a question
How did I ever find you
Drifting gently through the gyre
Of the great Sargasso sea, Atlantic Ocean
Got me writing love songs
With a common refrain like this one here

[Fiona Apple:]
The point your song here misses
Is that if you really loved me
You'd risk more than a few 50 cent
Words in your backhanded love song

[REPEAT]

Now it's time for a handsome little bookend
Now it's time to tie up all the loose ends
Am I still a skeptic or did you make me a believer?
If you hesitate, you'll hear the click of the receiver.

Directed by Philip Andelman

posted by Lanark (11 comments total)

Andrew Bird is my Beyoncé.
posted by Fizz at 3:45 PM on April 16, 2016 [6 favorites]

Ah! Andrew Bird, my love! I just saw him for the 4th time last week. He did the "Left Hand Kisses" duet with himself (no Fiona Apple, sadly), but it was still beautiful.

Compared to his previous albums, his new "Are You Serious" album felt more straight-forward lyrically and very personal, but no complaints there - its nice to see Mr Bird open up a little. He's still wonderful as always.

And thank you for posting the lyrics - I had no idea he was saying Sargasso Sea. That makes sense now :P
posted by littlesq at 3:46 PM on April 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

Beautiful song, great video. Thanks for posting.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:08 PM on April 16, 2016

LOVE
posted by gwint at 4:12 PM on April 16, 2016

(Would've sworn that video was directed by PTA, but apparently not.)
posted by gwint at 4:14 PM on April 16, 2016

Had no idea gyre was the gif of the Jabberwocky.
(Seriously, thought it was a hard G)
posted by DigDoug at 4:17 PM on April 16, 2016

Mumble, mumble: "begs the question", mumble, grumble...

I'll get over it (about the same time I stop gagging on "comprised of", I imagine.)

In Andrew Bird news, The Mysterious Production of Eggs is still my favourite of his albums. Highly recommended if you're interested in dipping a toe in his waters.
posted by pjm at 5:14 PM on April 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

Had no idea gyre was the gif of the Jabberwocky.
(Seriously, thought it was a hard G)

Looks like it's a different gyre- related to ocean currents, rather than gyring and gimbling in the wabe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_gyre
posted by Philby at 6:48 PM on April 16, 2016

I don't know why, but 'gyre' is totally the sort of word that is more-likely-than-average to appear in the lyrics to an Andrew Bird song.
posted by schmod at 10:59 PM on April 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

Luke Wilson can sing!

I've never heard of Andrew Bird. This was nice.
posted by numaner at 1:35 PM on April 18, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've listened to this song approximately 400 times since I saw this post yesterday. I'd never heard of Andrew Bird before. I need to find a lot more of his songs to love this much but I have to listen to this one again quick first...
posted by artychoke at 7:20 PM on April 18, 2016