Gun-Shy
Grizzly Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Frozen in my tracks (Nothing else to see)
And when I move my face left
You're always standing there (A shadow I can't see)
And even then I can't trace
You're walking away
I put my ears to the ground
Always pushing down (Nothing I can hear)
I found the worst half in me
We're cut off at the knees (Can't even take a stand)
Against your words and beliefs
We didn't wanna freeze
(All of the years, leaving me here Gun-shy)
I don't want to say it all again (the pain, losing my aim)
Never seem to see (And why?)
Do I always feel it all the same
The blisters in my eyes (Recite)
A guide that has only led me stray
And even as I limp (you smile)
The cold keeps tearing at me
Slowing down my blood,(Unable to speak)
I left my mind long ago
Choosing some false (Always letting go)
And when I try to face you
You're walking away
(All of the years, leaving me here Gun-shy)
I don't want to say it all again (the pain, losing my aim)
Never seem to see
(And why?) Do I always feel it all the same
The blisters in my eyes
(Recite) A guide that has only led me stray
And even as I limp (you smile)
Grizzly Bear's song "Gun-Shy" is a melancholic and introspective track that deals with the pain and uncertainty of a relationship that is falling apart. The opening lines "The sky keeps staring at me/Frozen in my tracks" set the mood of the song, which is one of stuckness and a feeling of being unable to move forward. The singer is haunted by the presence of someone who has left their life, depicted as a shadow they can't see, personifying the sense of loss and ambiguity that permeates the song.
The song's title, "Gun-Shy," refers to someone who is afraid to pull the trigger or take a risk because of previous bad experiences. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been hurt before and is hesitant to put themselves out there emotionally, hence the feeling of being "cut off at the knees" and unable to take a stand. The line "Choosing some false/Always letting go" can be interpreted as a reflection on the tendency to settle for something that isn't right or sustainable, rather than facing the pain of letting go and starting over.
The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "All of the years, leaving me here/Gun-shy," drives home the sense of being stuck in a cycle of pain and uncertainty, unable to move forward or let go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky keeps staring at me
I feel trapped and isolated as if the world is watching me.
Frozen in my tracks (Nothing else to see)
I am stuck and unable to move forward, unable to find anything else to focus on.
And when I move my face left
Even when I try to turn away from my problems and fears.
You're always standing there (A shadow I can't see)
My fears and insecurities are constantly looming, even when I can't pinpoint them exactly.
And even then I can't trace
I can't seem to grasp the source of my anxiety.
You're walking away
My fears and insecurities keep leaving me lost and alone.
I put my ears to the ground
I listen intently, searching for anything that might help me navigate my emotions.
Always pushing down (Nothing I can hear)
But I never seem to find any answers or solutions to my problems.
I found the worst half in me
I have uncovered my darkest fears and worst qualities.
We're cut off at the knees (Can't even take a stand)
These fears and insecurities have left me feeling powerless and unable to take any action.
Against your words and beliefs
I am struggling with conflicting emotions and ideas.
We didn't wanna freeze
I don't want to be stuck like this forever.
(All of the years, leaving me here Gun-shy)
All of my past experiences have left me traumatized and hesitant to take risks.
I don't want to say it all again (the pain, losing my aim)
I am tired of repeating the same mistakes and suffering the same consequences.
Never seem to see (And why?)
I can't understand why I keep falling into the same patterns and habits.
Do I always feel it all the same
Why can't I ever learn from my mistakes and break free from my anxieties?
The blisters in my eyes (Recite)
The pain and frustration I feel is palpable and overwhelming.
A guide that has only led me stray
All of my past experiences, good and bad, have left me feeling lost and aimless.
And even as I limp (you smile)
Despite my struggles, my fears continue to mock me.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher M. Taylor, Christopher Robert Bear, Daniel Raphael Rossen, Edward Droste
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@samaitken8616
The sky keeps staring at me
Frozen in my tracks
Nothing else to see
And when I move my face left
You're always standing there
A shadow I can't see
And even then I can't trace
You're walking away
I put my ears to the ground
Always pushing down
Nothing I can hear
I found the worst half in me
I'm cut off at the knees
Can't even take a stand
Against your words and beliefs
We didn't want to freeze
(All of the years
Leaving me here
Gun-shy
The pain
Losing my aim
And why
Haven't we changed?
Story to blame?
Recite
All of my wrongs
You know it's wrong
You smile)
I don't want to say it all again
I never seem to see
And why?
Do I always feel it all the same
The blisters in my eyes
Recite
A guide that has only led me stray
And even as I limp
You smile
The cold keeps tearing at me
Slowing down my blood
Unable to speak
I left my mind long ago
Choosing something false
Always letting go
And when I try to face you
You're walking away
@Angela970614
The sky keeps staring at me
Frozen in my tracks
(Nothing else to see)
And when I move my face left
You're always standing there
(A shadow I can't see)
And even then I can't trace
You're walking away
I put my ears to the ground
Always pushing down
(Nothing I can hear)
I found the worst half in me
I'm cut off at the knees
(Can't even take a stand)
Against your words and beliefs
I didn't want to freeze
(All of the years, leaving me here
Gun-shy)
I don't want to say it all again (the pain, losing my aim)
Never seem to see
(And why?) Do I always feel it all the same
The blisters in my eyes
(Recite) A guide that has only led me stray
And even as I limp (you smile)
The cold keeps tearing at me
Slowing down my blood
(Unable to speak)
I left my mind long ago
Choosing something false
(Always letting go)
And when I try to face you
You're walking away
(All of the years, leaving me here
Gun-shy)
I don't want to say it all again (the pain, losing my aim)
Never seem to see
(And why?) Do I always feel it all the same
The blisters in my eyes
(Recite) A guide that has only led me stray
And even as I limp (you smile)
@TheSleepiestPlurals
my interpretation of this video is that it's portraying how one is so keenly aware of one's bodily functions when feeling close to death. Like, the way that when you're about to attempt to end your life, you can feel your heart beating out of your chest, your breathing, sweat trickling, eyes blinking. All these things you usually don't think about but as you're contemplating the end your body seems to be trying to frantically cry out, I'm here, I'm alive, look at me, look at all these signs of life.
@jdunlap8339
Wow man, that's deep
@Dr.VonBraun
Weirdo
@TheSleepiestPlurals
@@Dr.VonBraun :(
@Dr.VonBraun
@@TheSleepiestPlurals I’m sorry. I must have been feeling salty that day. Plus, I try not to overthink things, so your take on the songs video and its meaning just came off as weird to me. Just my opinion. Nothing personal. Sorry for being an ass. I’m working on that. Have a great day.
@TheSleepiestPlurals
@@Dr.VonBraun thank you for apologizing, that's refreshing to see on the internet. My interpretation came mostly from the title of the song, "gun shy," which in my mind refers to someone holding a gun to themselves but is unable to pull the trigger
@michaelangelesz
Grizzly Bear, true artists. Reeeaally wanna see these guys live.
@FELENATOR
They are honestly breathtaking live
@juancruzpron5031
Ohhh live in Argentina was awesome man, you have to see this people live!!!
@nataliagonzalez2428
Juan Cruz Pron i was there, and i'm from Chile, 12 hours in a bus, totally worth it.