In Popular Culture
- The Norwegian band Midnight Choir had its name from the song's opening lines, "Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free."
- Kris Kristofferson has stated that those opening lines will be his epitaph.
- It was featured in a promo for an episode of the TV series Lost.
- A cover version of the song sung by Katey Sagal was featured in a closing segment of an episode, during the third season, of the TV series Sons of Anarchy.
- It was also featured in the TV Series Parenthood.
- Nigel Blackwell of the UK band Half Man Half Biscuit occasionally sings the opening lines of the song during live versions of his band's song '24 Hour Garage People', after mentioning being able to hear the songs playing on Graeme the shop assistant's iPod. The song is also referenced in another Half Man Half Biscuit song 'Letters Sent.'
- A cover is featured in the concluding scenes of director Robert Altman's 1978 film A Wedding.
- Tim Hardin's fourth album (Bird On A Wire) took its name from this song
Read more about this topic: Bird On The Wire
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