12.14.2020

Andrew Bird Performs a Song From His New Christmas Album

Singer, songwriter and violinist Andrew Bird is a one-of-a-kind musical innovator. His new holiday album “Hark!” features a collection of Christmas songs which he wrote during lockdown. Branching out from music, Bird makes his acting debut in the latest season of “Fargo.” He joins the show to discuss the new album and perform one of his songs.

Read Transcript EXPAND

I WONDERED WHEN YOU WERE WRITING AND DOING THE ALBUM IN APRIL AND THOSE MONTHS, DID YOU EXPECT US TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY?

I WAS JUST GETTING THE NOTION THAT WHEN THE HOLIDAYS COME AROUND, WE MIGHT STILL BE IN A CRITICAL SITUATION AND NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OUR LOVED ONES.

IT WAS JUST STARTING, WE WERE ALL GOING THROUGH STAGES OF IT.

IT WAS JUST STARTING TO OCCUR TO ME THAT WE MIGHT BE IN THAT BOAT.

SO I STARTED WRITING ABOUT IT.

WELL, LISTEN.

WE ARE VERY LUCKY.

YOU'VE AGREED TO PLAY A LITTLE FOR US.

I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR VIOLIN THERE.

PLAY POTENTIALLY A MINUTE OF WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLAY.

YEAH.

THIS ONE IS, ABOUT WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, CHRISTMAS IN APRIL.

♪♪ YOU'RE MY DARLING ♪ ♪ I WANT YOU ♪ I WANTED TO WHISPER SWEET WORDS OF COMFORT IN YOUR EAR ♪ ♪ NO MORE SORROW OR FEAR ♪ O MY LOVE ♪ UNDER THE MISTLETOE ♪ I'M WRITING A SONG ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN APRIL THIS YEAR ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW, FOLKS, THAT'S KIND OF MESSED UP ♪ ♪ I'M HOPING THESE WORDS DON'T RING SO HOLLOW IN YOUR EAR ♪ ♪ YOU SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ♪ ♪ MAYBE THE WIND IS BLOWING ALL YOUR FEARS ♪ ♪ I SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ♪ ♪♪

THAT'S LOVELY.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH.

About This Episode EXPAND

Christiane speaks with political strategist Sarah Longwell and presidential historian Michael Beschloss. She also speaks with singer-songwriter Andrew Bird, who performs one of his songs. Hari speaks with Geoffrey Canada and Kwame Owusu-Kesse about how they’re providing low-income families with critical social and academic services during the pandemic.

LEARN MORE