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Sleeping Ute
Grizzly Bear Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dreamed a long day
Just wandering free
Though I'm far gone
You sleep nearer to me

If I could find peace
If this night bleeds
But I can't help myself

So I walk out
These wandering dreams
Of the north road
Dressed gold and green

If I could lie still
As that grey hill
But I can't help myself

But it's calm and it's clear
Collapsed here on the stone
Delivered to this place
A vision dark and cloaked

And those figures through the leaves
And that light through the smoke
And those countless empty days
Made me dizzy when I woke
And I live to see your face
And I hate to see you go
But I know no other way
Than straight on out the door

And I can't help myself
And I can't help myself
And I can't help myself

Overall Meaning

The Grizzly Bear song Sleeping Ute is a dream-like, reflective song that touches on themes of longing, nature, and restlessness. The lyrics describe the singer's wandering thoughts as they dream of walking the North Road, dressed in gold and green. The singer muses on finding peace amidst their restless thoughts, wishing they could lie still as the grey hill. The refrain, "But I can't help myself," suggests a feeling of being caught in a cycle of movement and change that is difficult to break free from.


The song takes a turn in the middle, as the singer describes collapsing on a stone and having a vision that is "dark and cloaked." The vision is filled with figures that move through the leaves and light that shines through smoke. The singer wakes up feeling dizzy from the countless empty days they've experienced, but they live to see the face of the person they love, even though they hate to see them go. The final repetition of "And I can't help myself" reinforces the idea that the singer feels trapped in their longing, unable to find the peace and stillness they crave.


Line by Line Meaning

Dreamed a long day
I had a long day of wandering in my dream.


Just wandering free
I wandered aimlessly without any restrictions or limitations.


Though I'm far gone
Despite being far away in reality, I feel close to you in my dreams.


You sleep nearer to me
You are present in my subconscious even though we are physically apart.


If I could find peace
If I could find a sense of calm and tranquility within myself.


If this night bleeds
If my emotions become overwhelming and chaotic like blood bleeding out.


But I can't help myself
But I am unable to control my thoughts and emotions.


So I walk out
I leave my thoughts behind and physically go for a walk.


These wandering dreams
These dreams which lack purpose or direction.


Of the north road
Of a journey towards the north.


Dressed gold and green
Adorned with natural colors of gold and green, symbolizing my connection to nature.


If I could lie still
If I could find inner stillness and calmness.


As that grey hill
Like a grey hill which represents stability, strength, and resilience.


But I can't help myself
But I am unable to control my thoughts and emotions.


But it's calm and it's clear
Despite my confusion and inner turmoil, the world around me is calm and serene.


Collapsed here on the stone
Physically and mentally exhausted, I collapse on a stone as a metaphor for finding stability and comfort.


Delivered to this place
Brought to this moment by fate or destiny.


A vision dark and cloaked
An unclear vision or idea concealed by darkness and mystery.


And those figures through the leaves
Mysterious figures hidden behind foliage, representing the unknown or the unconscious.


And that light through the smoke
A guiding light obscured by smoke, representing the difficulty and confusion of finding direction in life.


And those countless empty days
Days which feel meaningless and unfulfilling.


Made me dizzy when I woke
Leaving me confused and disoriented when I woke up.


And I live to see your face
You are the reason for my existence and the source of my happiness.


And I hate to see you go
I feel sad and lonely when you are not around.


But I know no other way
But I have no other choice.


Than straight on out the door
Than to move forward and face whatever comes next.


And I can't help myself
I am unable to control my thoughts and emotions.


And I can't help myself
I am unable to control my thoughts and emotions.


And I can't help myself
I am unable to control my thoughts and emotions.




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
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ephnoir2335

Musical poetry. 

"Dreamed the long day just wandering free
Though I'm far gone you sleep nearer to me
If I could find peace
If this night leaves
But I can't help myself

So I'll walk out these wandering dreams
Up the north road dressed gold and green
If I could lie still as that great hill
But I can't help myself

Well it's calm and clear
Collapsed here on the stone
Delivered to this place
A vision dark and cloaked
And those figures through the leaves
And that light through the smoke
And those countless empty days made me dizzy when I woke
And I live to see your face
And I hate to see you go
But I know no other way than straight on out the door
And I can't help myself"



All comments from YouTube:

@o0xemas0o

My brother was killed a few months ago in a hit and run accident. Our best days were spent cruising the streets in a fog of Grizzly Bear melodies. I remember we played a game, first to talk loses. Music was a form of prayer for us. I still haven't lost my faith, and judging by this new work, neither have you.

@jarredb1120

I can relate to that because my friend Grant used to love this band a lot and he died about 2 years ago now and this was a band he showed me that I had vaguely heard of but never really hurt their music I just heard of their name and saw pictures of them and then he showed me the music and instantly liked it there's nothing to dislike about this band

@marlonc1000

My mom had a stroke while I was first getting into "painted ruins" and "Shields".
The music was kind of an escape from the situation. Now when I hear this song especially I think of my mother.

I get tears of joy and sadness at the same time. It's surreal. God bless you guys! I don't know you but I feel your pain.

@joekraft5913

Hope you're doing well brother, wherever you are, cheers from Idaho!!

@joekraft5913

@@marlonc1000 hope all is well with ya stranger, remember when you're going through hell.. dont stop.. keep goin.. keep goin <3

@Andrews.-ns1tz

Terribly sorry for your loss. My Mother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. My partner took the death of his Mom tragically. Less than a few months later he committed suicide. As a result of drinking and driving I now have become a homeless person for the past 2 years. That driver will never pay for his crime against me. Sure we all have a bad day - try walking. Not a bad person -.just a bad day.

2 More Replies...

@Uaarkson

this was one of the most powerful and well written songs of the 2010s

@NicoleSams

Definitely up there, and #3 in their discography (this entire album). I come back to it every season.

@eXiLe824

Chris Bear is such an underrated drummer. Grizzly Bear always has these intense, busy rhythm tracks in their songs and yet you never hear anything about him.

@MrShahid0072

Well that's why they partially named the band after him

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