Flightless Bird, American Mouth

by Iron & Wine
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of Flightless Bird, American Mouth

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

I was a (Eb)quick, wet boy div ing too (C)deep for coins.

All of your (Ab)street light eyes wide on my (Bb)plas tic toys.

Then when the (Eb)cops closed the fair, I cut my (C)long ba by hair and stole me a (Ab)dog eared map, called for you (Bb)ev ’ry where.

Have I (Eb)found you,

(C)flight less bird?

(Ab)Jea lous,

(Bb)weep

ing; or (Eb)lost you

A (C)mer i can mouth.

(Ab)Big pill

(Bb)loom

ing.

(Eb)fat house cat, nurs my (C)sore blunt tongue.

Watch ing the (Ab)warm poi son rats curl through the (Bb)wide fence cracks.

Piss ing on (Eb)mag a zine pho tos, those (C)fish ing lures thrown in the (Ab)cold and clean blood of Christ (Bb)moun tain stream.

(Eb)found you,

(C)flight less bird?

(Ab)Ground ed,

(Bb)wheel

(Eb)lost you

A (C)mer i can mouth.

(Ab)Big pill

(Bb)loom

Now I’m a (Bb)stuck

go ing (Eb)down.

(C)Ooh.

(Ab)Ooh.

Ooh.

(Eb)down.

(C)Ooh.

(Ab)Ooh.

Ooh.

Ooh.

Flightless Bird, American Mouth — Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

1 person has learned this song

Classic piano notation for "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron & Wine as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in Ab — sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 78 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Ab) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “Flightless Bird, American Mouth

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" suitable for a pianist?
Yes — both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key Ab, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron & Wine in?
The backing track is in Ab at 78 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Flightless Bird, American Mouth", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"?
"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" was originally performed by Iron & Wine. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode — both hands, classic piano notation, key of Ab, real chord symbols — but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes — treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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