On April 30, 1991, “Reprise” label released “Why Do Birds Sing?”,the fifth Violent Femmes studio album. It was recorded in 1990, and was produced by Gordon Gano, Brian Ritchie, Victor DeLorenzo and Michael Beinhorn.

Personnel:

• Gordon Gano- vocals, guitar
• Brian Ritchie- vocals, bass, guitar, bouzouki, banjo, ukulele, mouth harp, didgeridoo, xylophone, glockenspiel
• Victor DeLorenzo- vocals, drums, brushes, tranceaphone, tambourine, shakers, sleigh bells, tympani, firewood, cowbell, bongos, conga, fire extinguisher
• Michael Beinhorn- Hammond organ, Mellotron, piano, harmonium
• Sid Page, Suzie Katayama, Ilene Novog, Larry Corbett – strings
• Tommy Mandel- keyboards
• Eric “ET” Thorngren – engineer, mixing
• David Vartanian – mixing
• Susan Rogers – engineer
• Tom Fritze – engineer assistant
• Lori Fumar – engineer assistant
• Mike Kloster – engineer assistant
• Howie Weinberg– mastering
• Mary Jones – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gordon Gano, except where noted.

1. American Music
2. Out of the Window
3. Look Like That
4. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? – George O’Dowd,Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Gano
5. “Hey Nonny Nonny – Shepard Tonie, Gano
6. Used to Be
7. Girl Trouble
8. He Likes Me
9. Life is a Scream
10. Flamingo Baby
11. Lack of Knowledge
12. More Money Tonight
13. I’m Free