Released: July 4, 2001

Songwriter: Bernie Taupin Elton John

Producer: Guy Babylon Davey Johnstone Nigel Olsson

I'm building a bird
From the wreck of a story
Something I once heard
Sifting through this pile of words
I'm building a bird

I'm building a bird
From a crack in the system
Sunshine, it's a dirty word
Slippin' out this naked world
And building a bird

Take a broken bird home
Wrap it in barbed wire
Saddest song I ever heard
Was a bird in a house on fire

I'm building a bird
From the wreck of a story
Something I once heard
Sifting through this pile of words
I'm building a bird

All this scattered makeup
From covering his curse
All the scattered building blocks
That never got to build a bird

If you want it you can take it
If you need it you don't know it
If it moves screw it in the ground
All around it's all over
Tools and nail and glue and feathers
All that's left from building a bird

I'm building a bird
From a crack in the system
Sunshine, it's a dirty word
Slippin' out of this naked world
I'm building a bird
Building a bird
Building a bird
Building a bird

Nigel Olsson

Nigel Olsson is an English rock drummer and vocalist. His is best known as being the longtime drummer for Elton John. Prior to joining Elton John’s band, he was a member of Plastic Penny and Uriah Heep. As a full-time drummer and backing vocalist for Elton John, he appeared on many of John’s most successful albums, such as Honky Chateau, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

After his dismissal from the Elton John Band in the mid 70s after the release of John’s album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, he went on to find some solo success of his own, with his singles “Dancin' Shoes” and “Little Bit of Soap.” Both songs charted in the Top 40. He rejoined the Elton John band for a short stint in the 80s, then rejoined permanently in the 2000s, and is currently accompanying John on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. He is a self-described “car maniac,” and has raced cars professionally. He endorses DW Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks, and FootJoy golf gloves.