Owl City: The Bird and the Worm Meaning

The Bird and the Worm Lyrics

If you're the bird whenever we pretend it's summer
Then I'm the worm, I know the part, it's such a bummer
But fair is fair, if my segments get separated
I'll scream and you'll be there

Close your eyes, close my eyes
Slide the cotton off of...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   owlcityandkesha77

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   May 27th 2010 !⃝

   In this song, the bird is the girlfriend. The worm is the boy, AKA Adam Young. The worm is the guy everyone loves, everyone wants to date him in this group of friends, AKA the undersea friends, said in the song. So, out of all the friends and the bird, the worm chooses the bird because she stands out. So, then all of the friends (fish) hate the bird AND the worm a LOT, out of jealousy. So, the worm throws a party ("I'll throw a party and greet my undersea friends") despite the fact that many of them are mad and won't come ("it depends if they arrive"). So then, he's pretty much saying, hey let's be friends, no need for enemies. ("For all my pals who live in the oceans and the seas, with friends like these well who needs enemies?")
   :)

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Jan 9th 2014 !⃝

   Well, birds and worms are, of course, natural enemies, but they naturally go together as well, so I think it means that opposites attract. Also, I was discussing this with my friend (using this song for a poetry language project), and we think two things about the line "slide the cotton off of your shoulder and feel the shine". Firstly, cotton is often a descriptive word for clouds, so (possibly)it could be something like having a dark cloud over head (or just any issues)and feeling the sun overhead (having a more positive attitude). It could also have something to do with how people pretend to be all happy and fluffy, so stop pretending and actually feel it. Maybe?
3. anonymous

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   Mar 29th 2017 !⃝

   Worms are often used for fishing, so the undersea friends part seems a little dark. When I first heard this song, I thought it a little odd that it was a romance between a bird and a worm... But after listening a lot, it seems even odder that a worm is FRIENDS with sea creatures. And then the line, "with friends like these, who needs enemies?" tipped me off—specifically the phrase "like these." If you have terrible friends, it's just like having enemies.
   I think the "undersea friends" are toxic friends who eat away at the worm's mental/emotional health (thus the fact that fish eat worms).
   I don't know. I just happened to notice it. I don't know how accurate it is.
4. anonymous

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   Jul 21st 2015 !⃝

   I was surprised not to see this interpretation on here but:
   To sum it up it is about getting head.
   "If you're the bird whenever we pretend it's summer the I'm the worm."
   Robins often suck up worms
   Summertime is often when animals have babies
   "Slide the cotton off of your shoulder"
   Take off your clothes
   etc.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

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   Mar 18th 2014 !⃝

   The line 'between the ears' I think is a really great pun, it just makes me giggle.
   Ears, meaning ears of corn
6. anonymous

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   Dec 9th 2012 !⃝

   ha ha! between the ears... i get it :P okay, saying it out of context the pun stinks, but it is awesome in this song!
7. anonymous

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   Jun 3rd 2012 !⃝

   I think the song is about Adam Young and his "girlfriend". They really love each other as it was meant to be, but as owlcityandkesha77 said, his ocean friends are jealous. also, a worm is supposed to be enemies with birds. He can't be with the bird. So I think this song is pretty sad, although it has a happy melody and doesnt seem sad at first.
8. anonymous

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   Mar 27th 2012 !⃝

   In truth, I never thought about it like the first two with the fish being jealous. But I caught "I'm hooked so toss me over and cast the line" like he is the bait on the hook, but he is also "hooked" on her.
   
   Also the part "if my segments get separated I'll scream and you'll be there" it's like she'll always be there for him, but he's also a worm and they can survive after being "separated"
   
   "we'll take a long walk through the cornfield and I'll kiss you between the ears" at first I was like of course you kiss her between the ears, that's where her mouth is. But then I thought eares of corn. He would kiss her between the eares of corn! Duh! I only caught most of this stuff after listening to this song multiple times.
9. anonymous

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   Jun 27th 2011 !⃝

   It's a conceit, in a sense. It's about how Adam and this girl are meant to be, like how a bird is meant to eat a worm. It's about how he and the girl will always be there for each other, and about how they will never turn on each other.
   
   "With fronds like these, well, who needs anenomes?"
   
   Cute Finding Nemo reference, Adam. owo

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