the meaning of the phrase 'bird on a wire'
Does anyone here know the meaning of the phrase "bird on a wire"? Thanks.
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MovieChat Forums > Bird on a Wire (1990) Discussion > the meaning of the phrase 'bird on a wir...
I imagine you've found the answer to this question-slash-moved on with your life since 2005, Amy J. Hoff, but I thought I'd take a stab anyway. I think it's chosen because of the central concept of the Leonard Cohen song that The Neville Brothers cover in the film, since it matches Mel Gibson's basic predicament in the story :
"Like a bird
On the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried
In my way
To be free."
Etc., etc.. Basically someone trying to be as free as possible, despite the tight parameters of their situation.
"Shot on celluloid. Projected onto a screen. What more do ya ƒuckin' want?!"
Good Idea - - but I don't think so. It puts the cart before the horse. IE==which came first, the movie or the song? I read this review before watching the movie and its always nice to be reminded of any Lenard Cohen song. After the movie, there was a tv show about someone being monitored by the police: he was "on the wire." There was that series: "The Wire" about criminals being wired. Made me think of your comment.
I think the movie was made and maybe even already titled "Bird on a wire" about someone wanting to be free who was on the wire. THEN someone said, we can even use that Lenard Cohen song==beauty!!!
While many books inspire movies, and many movies inspire songs, I wonder how many songs inspire either moview or books? Offhand, I can't think of any--Star Spangled Banner, maybe some other patriotic songs?
Others?
Okay, well, there's really no way to say one way or the other, but I would contend that that the Neville Brothers cover, which I think may have been made for the film, suggests it's taken directly from the Cohen song.
But hey, be it chicken or egg, I would say the meaning pretty much remains the same, and I don't really like the idea of it just being a general phrase pertaining to the pursuit of cop and crook, as per say, Michael Mann's 'Heat' or the double meaning of 'The Wire'. I mean I buy the wire bit, but I don't buy that you'd naturally think of Mel Gibson's character as a bird. I do think it's the song.
"I'll give it not one [BANG!] but two [BANG!] bullets to the back of Lincoln's head!"
Well, I did a little more google. Seems the phrase "Bird on a Wire" has a more general meaning: Living life a bit dangerously. I also found the wiki to be a quick review of interest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_on_the_Wire
This is exactly the type of question someone in on the film should respond to! Probably too involved in their own exciting lives? The time frames for the song and the movie and the Neville Bros is consistent with some connection there driving the naming of the film.
I thought Booth shot only once at Lincoln. Was it twice?
LOL. Fair dos. This would appear to be a tomayto/tomahto situation.
Short of stalking the original scripwriters, thwacking them over the head with a moderately-sized baseball bat and hoping they recover with the correct degree of clarity that allows us psychoanalyse them, but not for them to call the police, I think we can call it a day.
"I'll give it not one [BANG!] but two [BANG!] bullets to the back of Lincoln's head!"
Baseball bat? I must object and assume you are thinking "wiffle" but even that is too extreme. Film lovers should discuss these issues over coffee, beer, wine or just a cool evenings breeze. No violence even on disagreement. I know that is what you meant to say. (smile.)
shareWhich brings us to the second conundrum - what the hell is 'wiffle'?
"I'll give it not one [BANG!] but two [BANG!] bullets to the back of Lincoln's head!"
Hah, hah. Well, the answer to that is but a google away, with pictures and everhtything: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiffleball
Still some meat left on the bone though: what normally comes first, movie title or song to go with?
What other movie/song combo's are there and do they EVER arise without the some being related to the SUBJECT of the movie==meaning the subject of the movie is the controlling/first factor?
1. The Wizard of Oz. It movie wasn't called that because of the song--it was called that because of the movie/book.
2. Ghostbusters. Same Deal.
OK, lets think of something less of a "label" and more about a theme? Just the first one I thought of---the James Bond Series of Movies like "You only Live Twice"--it was not about nor a reference to the song of the same name==it was about the movie subject of getting killed once and trying not to get killed again?
I'm just looking at lists of movie names. The excellent "Man on a Wire" films. They were about men living dangerously, don't recall any songs though. Continuuing: Well, most movie titles related to book titles or lead character names, tough to find ones with associated music. Last I'll waste my time with is "Wild Things" about murderous young babes. Now if the sound track includes "Wild Thing" by the Troggs, it would still be a movie with the SUBJECT of hot, young wild things and it would not be a reference to the song of the same (almost) title.
I think I have the winning argument until any facts are known. (smile!)
Any other words you are too lazy to look up?
I figure that if you are an informant you are a "rat" or "bird". A bird being someone who sings to the cops.
If a Bird is on a wire, he's in open sight and is vulnerable?
I'm totally guessing here.
"I'm totally guessing here."
I noticed!
"I'll give it not one [BANG!] but two [BANG!] bullets to the back of Lincoln's head!"
I only recently set my account to send me emails when someone responds to my posts, so I didn't know people were responding to this thread until today. Thanks for taking the time to respond! Embarrassing to admit, but the reason why I asked the question in the first place was that at the time I was really into David Soul (Hutch in Starsky & Hutch), and he wrote a song by the name of Bird on a Wire.
shareYeah, well I imagine Soul was covering the Leonard Cohen song I mentioned. (But it's cool you're still reading these.)
"THIS IS THE NEEEEEWS."
Like a "Fish in a barrel", a "Bird on a wire" is easy to shoot/kill, i.e. very vulnerable target. It's not good to be the "fish" or the "bird".
share^^^
This. Exactly what I was going to say. A bird on a wire is an easy target. They're not flying or moving around. If you look at the movie poster, the 'O' in "On' forms the gun sight, which is superimposed over an image of a bird on a wire:
http://images.moviepostershop.com/bird-on-a-wire-movie-poster-1990-1020233124.jpg
Furthermore, the actual song reflects the theme of the movie:
If I, if I have been unkind
I hope that you can just let it go by
If I, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you
That pretty much describes Rick and Marianne.
In short, Rick is the 'bird on a wire.' He has a big target on his back, and he can't stay still in one place lest he be discovered and shot.
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