Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

The Beatles' song 'Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)' is a subtle and enigmatic narrative that tells the story of a romantic encounter with a touch of irony and ambiguity. The lyrics, penned by John Lennon with contributions from Paul McCartney, are a part of the band's 1965 album 'Rubber Soul' and showcase a departure from their earlier pop love songs into more complex and mature themes.

The song's protagonist recounts a past fling with a woman who seems to be in control of the situation ('Or should I say, she once had me'). The mention of 'Norwegian wood' refers to the cheap pine often used to make furniture, which was popular at the time in Britain. This could be a metaphor for the woman's character or the superficial nature of their relationship. The lack of a chair in her room, leading him to sit on a rug, drinking her wine, sets a casual and somewhat intimate scene. However, the encounter ends anticlimactically as the woman leaves for work, and he wakes up alone, leading to the line 'This bird has flown,' which signifies his departure or the fleeting nature of the encounter.

The final verse, where the protagonist lights a fire, could be interpreted literally as him seeking warmth after being left alone, or metaphorically as him burning down the memory of the night or even the wooden furniture, a possible act of revenge or closure. The song's ambiguous storytelling, combined with its sitar-infused melody, creates a haunting and introspective atmosphere that invites multiple interpretations and reflects the band's evolving artistry during the mid-1960s.