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Neko Case — Maybe Sparrow
Album: Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1262









Released: 2006
Length: 2:29
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Maybe sparrow you should wait
The hawks alight till morning
You'll never pass beyond the gate
If you don't hear my warning

Notes are hung so effortless
With the rise and fall of sparrow's breast
It's a drowning dive and back to the chorus

La di da di da di da
La di da di da di da

Oh my sparrow it's too late
Your body limp beneath my feet
Your dusty eyes as cold as clay
You didn't hear my warning
You didn't hear my warning

Maybe sparrow it's too late
Moonlight glanced off metal wings
In a thunderstorm above the clouds
The engine hums a sparrow's phrase
For those who cannot hear the words
For those who cannot hear the words
For those who will not hear the words

La di da di da di da
La di da di da di da

Maybe sparrow
Maybe sparrow
Maybe sparrow
Comments (156)add comment
Neko does some great stuff.  This ain't one of them. 
Thanks RP / Bill for playing Neko. What a discovery that was and what a brilliant CD this is, probably her best 
 joetekubi wrote:

Great voice and some unique voicings and arrangements, but I've decided that Neko 
is over dramatic.  More style than substance. 



One of my favorite voices in the industry. 
 flyboy wrote:

Yes, what of it?  Nothing to see here, move along.  Pay no attention to her goat legs either.




In ancient times soldiers took the severed heads of their enemies back to their capitals as evidence of victory. Not sure about the goat legs.
 jpfueler wrote:
2 years ago was the last comment?
 

Last person to comment lost their head. Word got around.
2 years ago was the last comment?
 skooba wrote:
Love the song.  But is the woman on the album cover holding a severed head?

 
Yes, what of it?  Nothing to see here, move along.  Pay no attention to her goat legs either.
Love the song.  But is the woman on the album cover holding a severed head?
 joetekubi wrote:
Great voice and some unique voicings and arrangements, but I've decided that Neko 
is over dramatic.  More style than substance. 
 
I'm not sure of your criteria for "substance", but I think she's one of the best lyricists around.
Great voice and some unique voicings and arrangements, but I've decided that Neko 
is over dramatic.  More style than substance. 
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Horrendous. But to each his/her own.
I see 'Lazurus' is back, which is why I stopped posting comments a while ago. Bleh.

 
I agree with you on the song. But come on, lighten up. Lazarus ain't hurt nobody.
Horrendous. But to each his/her own.
I see 'Lazurus' is back, which is why I stopped posting comments a while ago. Bleh.
 Proclivities wrote:

Peggy Olsen?

 
Yes. The third, little known and definition-busting Olsen twin.
LOVE HER!!
 GINRUSH wrote:
One of the best female mold breaking artists since Peggy Olsen. 

 
Peggy Olsen?
 GINRUSH wrote:
One of the best female mold breaking artists since Peggy Olsen. 

  Agreed. And since lucinda williams, and since tracy chapman. Molds breaking all over the place. How great to live to see it and recall the stepford before. they might be the richard thompson, tom waits and leo kottke counterparts of the female set. Hope the women make more bucks than those inexplicably overshadowed guys.


One of the best female mold breaking artists since Peggy Olsen. 
Good song from a great album.  I prefer some of the other tracks, but most any Neko is good Neko.  

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
check out" mood to burn bridges"
The foghorn strikes again.
Good music and good rumors! Good feelings! We are listening, eating baccelli, lamb, rabbit, artichokes, rucola...do you know BACCELLI?Time for dinner in Italy
Just wanted to add that I've seen her live several times here in Colorado and she is fantastic live...

 peter_james_bond wrote:
This singer is the real deal. For those who think her voice is manipulated in the studio I want to make 2 points:

1) Many RP listeners have seen her in concert; sunny_day and dzigfinge are 2 on this comment board, and they report that her voice is stunning live.

<snip>
 


Maybe not sparrow. Maybe more like nails on a blackboard.
Is it too soon to call this a classic?
 flyboy wrote:
 james_of_tucson wrote:
Ok I am truly in love with this woman.  I had hoped that, after actually meeting her, I'd be over my crush.  Nope.
So she's as cool as I like to imagine?
 
Well she did leave Tucson without me, so no :-(

Coyotes love the video to this song!
I can't resist but adding here that I love the way the "drowning dive and back to the chorus" bit sounds so imitative of some types of birdsong.
 wenatchee wrote:
I'm not making the la-dee-da connection on this one, but am a fan of Neko's other tracks
 
I think the la-dee-da's are reflecting on the seeming randomness and transience of life; she's coming to grips with mortality - the sparrow's and everyone else.  You can pray all you want, but you'll die eventually anyway.  I'm not wording it very well, but that's part of what I get from the lyrics:

Maybe sparrow you should wait
The hawk's alight till morning
You'll never pass beyond the gate
If you don't hear my warning.

Notes are hung so effortless
With the rise and fall of sparrow's breast
It's a drowning dive and back to the chorus
La di da di da di da
La di da di da di da

Oh my sparrow it's too late
Your body limp beneath my feet
Your dusty eyes cold as clay
You didn't hear my warning

Maybe sparrow it's too late
Moonlight glanced off metal wings
In a thunderstorm above the clouds
The engine hums a sparrow's phrase

For those who cannot hear the words
For those who cannot hear the words
For those who will not hear the words
La di da di da di da
La di da di da di da

Maybe sparrow
Maybe sparrow


 crockydile wrote:

Me, too. I wish the canines on the cover would attack. {#Lol}
 
Okay thats funny.

Awesome, can never have enough Neko Case.
well never thought I´d say this, but that was a non-segue from Joe Henry! Come on, let me have it!
 Bluesgrrl wrote:
Weird, I used to love her. Now her voice grates on me. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood.{#Think}
 
Me too, I bought this CD and never listen to it. {#Yell}
Weird, I used to love her. Now her voice grates on me. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood.{#Think}
Animals are always running into problems in Neko's songs...usually fatal ones.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Not my cuppa tea. I find her voice grating.
 
Me, too. I wish the canines on the cover would attack. {#Lol}
Not my cuppa tea. I find her voice grating.
 vit wrote:


Touché, though we probably share more than a dozen songs rated > 8.
 

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room. 
Dr. Strangelove—fight in the War Room

 
peter_james_bond wrote:

Yes you're right, my response was pathetic, I was pressed for time. I respect your opinion on flaming because in that arena you seem to be a pro, but when it comes to music, well that's a different story.....IMHO.


Touché, though we probably share more than a dozen songs rated > 8.


 vit wrote:


Wow talk about knee-jerk. Ask for advice the next time you try to flame someone Mr. Bond 'cause trying to find clever rhymes just plain misses the mark.

 
Yes you're right, my response was pathetic, I was pressed for time. I respect your opinion on flaming because in that arena you seem to be a pro, but when it comes to music, well that's a different story.....IMHO.
peter_james_bond wrote:

Thanks twit, ...oh sorry vit, for your invaluable input.


Wow talk about knee-jerk. Ask for advice the next time you try to flame someone Mr. Bond 'cause trying to find clever rhymes just plain misses the mark.

 vit wrote:
Maybe Sparrow you should pluck out a certain over-billed ssw's larynx.
 
Thanks twit, ...oh sorry vit, for your invaluable input.
peter_james_bond wrote:
This singer is the real deal. For those who think her voice is manipulated in the studio I want to make 2 points:

1) Many RP listeners have seen her in concert; sunny_day and dzigfinge are 2 on this comment board, and they report that her voice is stunning live.

2) I have the live album that was made of her appearance at Austin City Limits. On that album she sounds as wonderful as she does on her studio albums

For those of you who disparage her singing and run down this album in particular, I'm taking the following quote from Wikipedia, 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood was released on March 7, 2006. Critics hailed the record not only for Case's trademark vocals but also her use of stark imagery and non-standard song structures. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood wound up on many "Best of 2006" lists, such as No.1 on the Amazon.com music editors' picks and no. 2 on NPR's All Songs Considered.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I know my arguments won't stop the detractors but maybe they should pause and think instead of instant knee jerk condemnation of anything that sounds remotely like country music.


Maybe Sparrow you should pluck out a certain over-billed ssw's larynx.

(just goin' for that whole knee-jerk thing)

This singer is the real deal. For those who think her voice is manipulated in the studio I want to make 2 points:

1) Many RP listeners have seen her in concert; sunny_day and dzigfinge are 2 on this comment board, and they report that her voice is stunning live.

2) I have the live album that was made of her appearance at Austin City Limits. On that album she sounds as wonderful as she does on her studio albums

For those of you who disparage her singing and run down this album in particular, I'm taking the following quote from Wikipedia, 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood was released on March 7, 2006. Critics hailed the record not only for Case's trademark vocals but also her use of stark imagery and non-standard song structures. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood  wound up on many "Best of 2006" lists, such as No.1 on the Amazon.com music editors' picks and no. 2 on NPR's All Songs Considered.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I know my arguments won't stop the detractors but maybe they should pause and think instead of instant knee jerk condemnation of anything that sounds remotely like country music.
I'm not making the la-dee-da connection on this one, but am a fan of Neko's other tracks
 Papernapkin wrote:
Hillbilly hollerin'.
 
'zactly... but great hillbilly hollerin'!

RadioDoc wrote:
Someone please free the cat from under the couch. This is painful to listen to. 4

TanteJensen wrote:

I'm trying man, I really am. But everytime I get it out, it scrambles right back under it. It thinks there's propably some sort of bird there it desparately wants to catch.

 

Okay, I'll do it...maybe a sparrow!




First show on a five show in six day tour of euriope was fantasic!  Thanks Niko!
Neko

Please stop yelling.
As hard as I try (quite hard) I cannot help but find her voice incredibly harsh... almost more like she's shouting than singing. It's not that she doesn't hit the notes, she's bang on, there's just no subtlety. It's as if she only has one volume setting (at least on this track and Deep Red Bells) - too loud.
A wonderful song by a beautiful and talented singer/songwriter. Hearing her never fails to make me sing along. Be glad you can't hear me! {#Music}
 RadioDoc wrote:
Someone please free the cat from under the couch. This is painful to listen to. 4
 
I'm trying man, I really am. But everytime I get it out, it scrambles right back under it. It thinks there's propably some sort of bird there it desparately wants to catch.

 james_of_tucson wrote:
Ok I am truly in love with this woman.  I had hoped that, after actually meeting her, I'd be over my crush.  Nope.
 
Lucky dawg.  I'm envious.  Neko is quite the impressive woman...looks, talent, and uber coolness.  {#Cool}
 james_of_tucson wrote:
Ok I am truly in love with this woman.  I had hoped that, after actually meeting her, I'd be over my crush.  Nope.
So she's as cool as I like to imagine?


{#Bananapiano} 
Ok I am truly in love with this woman.  I had hoped that, after actually meeting her, I'd be over my crush.  Nope.


dctrpunda wrote:


Really? You live in an home where you allow a cat to be pinned under a couch? {edited for brevity since you can read the witty retort below}
Nope, don't have a cat. Don't allow them to be mistreated either (should we send the ASPCA to your house)? Too bad we can't impose that same standard on ears, although it's evident the producer has none. This tune is positively awful and if you've ever heard a cat stuck anywhere the similarity is astounding.

Two settings; off and HIGH, but the latter is brilliant.
 kaybee wrote:
Man, I'm gonna have to get this album!
 

Do so - it's great!
  RadioDoc wrote:
Someone please free the cat from under the couch. This is painful to listen to. 4
 
dctrpunda wrote:


Really?  You live in an home where you allow a cat to be pinned under a couch?  That seems like certain death for the cat unlesss said couch is really light, like maybe a bean bag chair or maybe one of those inflatable couches - which leads me to wonder then what your entire living room must look like, as it must be decorated with some really almost strangely light furniture. 

I mean, I can't imagine you would live in a home so cruel as to let a cat get pinned under a normal couch and the only thing you can say as it shrieks it's last screaming breath is, "Hey, please free the cat from under the couch".  I mean, no one is that heartless, so I have to believe you have like inflatable or plastic or some other light really crappy, weird furniture in your home.  I'm imagining all white, the walls, the paintings, everything, probably even the cat, which is probably dead at this point or at least in need of some serious veterinary work.

Is your real name Nooni or Nuuni?
....  {#Wink}
 
{#Lol} {#Lol} {#Lol}
I could do without all the reverb once in a while, and with some subtlety in her voice. Any subtlety.
 RadioDoc wrote:
Someone please free the cat from under the couch. This is painful to listen to. 4
 

Really?  You live in an home where you allow a cat to be pinned under a couch?  That seems like certain death for the cat unlesss said couch is really light, like maybe a bean bag chair or maybe one of those inflatable couches - which leads me to wonder then what your entire living room must look like, as it must be decorated with some really almost strangely light furniture. 

I mean, I can't imagine you would live in a home so cruel as to let a cat get pinned under a normal couch and the only thing you can say as it shrieks it's last screaming breath is, "Hey, please free the cat from under the couch".  I mean, no one is that heartless, so I have to believe you have like inflatable or plastic or some other light really crappy, weird furniture in your home.  I'm imagining all white, the walls, the paintings, everything, probably even the cat, which is probably dead at this point or at least in need of some serious veterinary work.

Is your real name Nooni or Nuuni?
....  {#Wink}


Man, I'm gonna have to get this album!
ladedadeda...I so needed my Neko fix right now.  Thanks RP! 

SUPPORT RP!  This artist alone is worth the effort. 
One of the great female pop voices.  I like her work with The New Pornographers more than her solo stuff but it's all very listenable.
I saw Neko last year and she was wonderful as usual.
Love Neko Case! By far the best artist RP introduced me to.
I was wrong.  Its not a 4.  Its a 2.
bigB_3 wrote:
Funny. You give Frou Frou a "10". So much for your "taste" in music. Hold tight. Bill will play some Pearl Jam for you soon. This is an easy 8.


Er, slagging someone off for their ratings is a definite no-no on this board. It can work both ways, matey - I'm sure someone could slag off your 10s for lack of "taste". The fact that folk listen to RP shows that they have eclectic and intelligent tastes - anyone who wants MOR pop and genre music has plenty of other places to go to. Quit being so judgemental of other listeners.

markoirl wrote:
Oh no, it's the Neko Case police. I'm so sorry, she's absolutely brilliant. How could I have been so wrong. It will never happen again ... I've started the recommended musical "taste" re-training. This track could do with more reverb.
hilarious. . .
Hillbilly hollerin'.
Someone please free the cat from under the couch. This is painful to listen to. 4
Still can't sing on pitch. And all the reverb makes it sound like "Mavis Barrow", not Maybe Sparrow. Ugh.
bigB_3 wrote:
Funny. You give Frou Frou a "10". So much for your "taste" in music. Hold tight. Bill will play some Pearl Jam for you soon. This is an easy 8.
Oh no, it's the Neko Case police. I'm so sorry, she's absolutely brilliant. How could I have been so wrong. It will never happen again ... I've started the recommended musical "taste" re-training. This track could do with more reverb.
markoirl wrote:
Maybe spare us this reverbial rambling rubbish. 1 -> 1
Funny. You give Frou Frou a "10". So much for your "taste" in music. Hold tight. Bill will play some Pearl Jam for you soon. This is an easy 8.
The LA Di DAAAA Di DA Di DAAAAA!:s get an 8 for the plain wake-up factor.
Neko is one of the great ones.
LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
kaupmees wrote:
Neko did most of the artwork for the CD jacket, too, if I'm not remembering wrong. Nice stuff.
Hmm, really? I like the style of the artwork a lot. And the music, too, of course.
I personally love the production value of her voice. Reverb, no reverb, I don't think it would matter, I just think it fits her recording style, and fits well in the music. That voice would sound very similar through a Radio Shack mic into a crappy tape deck. It just has a certain presence that transcends equipment.
Maybe spare us this reverbial rambling rubbish. 1 -> 1
peyotecoyote wrote:
This is the very first song I heard on Radio Paradise...and still one of my favourites.
if that was the first song i heard on RP, i would never have stayed around this long.
8 -> 9
YESSSS. One of my faves from Fox Confessor. Which is tough, because every single song is a gem.
sfListener wrote:
Does she ever turn down the reverb?
I heard her singing live a few days ago. In live concerts, her voice is really stunning, and it is not a matter of reverb.
sfListener wrote:
Does she ever turn down the reverb?
Doesn't seem like it Doesn't seem like it. Doesn't seem like it. Doesn't seem like it.
Good CD. Only one song that sticks out as not belonging, IMHO.
Reverb away Neko!
Does she ever turn down the reverb?
I was introduced to Neko Case on RP and she is fabulous. Thanks, BillG and Rebecca. You both rock the mic and rattle the amps.
Outstanding.
Bill...how do you do it? Thank you so much!!!
peyotecoyote wrote:
This is the very first song I heard on Radio Paradise...and still one of my favourites.
a great place to start i'd say...
Not enough Neko Case now! Familiarity breeds respect. liteon1 wrote:
Enough Neko Case now! Familiarity breeds contempt.
MsJudi wrote:
Bill's been on a Neko Case binge lately. ;)
Imagine if Neko and Peter Gabriel had a child...
MsJudi wrote:
Bill's been on a Neko Case binge lately. ;)
Yep. Hard to get too much Neko, IMO. Thanks Bill!
lerxst wrote:
In my car right now. I mean this CD, not Neko herself. That would be weird.
Weird for you maybe, but Neko can be in my car anytime she wants!
In my car right now. I mean this CD, not Neko herself. That would be weird.
Really hate this . . . do you all ever play Cibo Matto? "Sugar Water" preferably!
Bill's been on a Neko Case binge lately. ;)
I cannot figure out what the issue is with Neko - hollow body guitar, good singer, tolerable lyrics . . . and they all add up to "bleh" for me. I have tried, but it's just a no go.
On the "off note" in the last part of the song. The first "la de da de da de da" has what is certainly a blue note as it's very similar to the ACL performance at the same place. Any problem in the second "la de da de da de da" (which is at 2:12 as referenced by bokey) is very slight. Perfectionism indeed. ... I still love her though.
cc_rider wrote:
Everything she does starts out around a 7, and goes up every time I hear it. Stunning. c.
Same here..
This is the very first song I heard on Radio Paradise...and still one of my favourites.
FluorideFreeMN wrote:
Bill sure likes Neko...lots of play time!
And so I keep coming back. He can just keep playing Neko.
Very nice song. Love.
Great, great stuff.
there needs to be an eleven....
Neko's the one, my girl
This is as good as it gets for me. And I never tire of the whole album. Luv it so much
FluorideFreeMN wrote:
Bill sure likes Neko...lots of play time!
yeah, it's too bad.
Bill sure likes Neko...lots of play time!
Everything she does starts out around a 7, and goes up every time I hear it. Stunning. c.
Has anyone ever heard (or heard of ),anyone covering this? The amount of practice time would be daunting. I'd be interested if anyone's tried to pull it off. Neko can barely hang on herself and she's wrapped around the song from the inside out.
shayborg wrote:
Wow, I thought it was a blue note she hit on purpose. It doesn't sound bad at all, particularly at the climax of the song.
It's not a bad thing, it's just perfectionism. She's at a level where she is her only (serious) critic.
bokey wrote:
I heard it today only because I remembered it had been mentioned. It's the the "la de da" at 2:12. Only mistake in the whole song and good for her that she left it in instead of using studio trickery.It sounds like the worked on it a bit but they could have replaced it entirely. Few people could make it through that song that clean.I like her.
Wow, I thought it was a blue note she hit on purpose. It doesn't sound bad at all, particularly at the climax of the song.
Enough Neko Case now! Familiarity breeds contempt.
ScottFromShakopee wrote: Thanks for that great link! I am so glad to see that she finally got some exposure. Lord knows she has long deserved it! GO NEKO! and all praise to Bill for getting me hip to her years ago!
zensend wrote:
Come to think of it, I heard her interviewed about Fox Confessor . . . and she again nit picked at Maybe Sparrow saying she cringes at an off key note she sings. I've failed to notice it. I keep getting caught up in the music and cant find it.
I heard it today only because I remembered it had been mentioned. It's the the "la de da" at 2:12. Only mistake in the whole song and good for her that she left it in instead of using studio trickery. It sounds like the worked on it a bit but they could have replaced it entirely. Few people could make it through that song that clean. I like her.
NorthernLad wrote:
Neko is a red haired siren of song---both her voice and her look are slurpilicious...
Yummy !