Bear's Den have released four studio albums: Islands (2014), Red Earth & Pouring Rain (22 July 2016), So that you might hear me (26 April 2019), and Blue Hours (13 May 2022). Islands peaked at number forty-nine on the UK Albums Chart. The band has also issued six EPs: Agape (2013), Without/Within (2013), Only Son of the Falling Snow (2019), Christmas, Hopefully (2020), The Quiet Winter Light (2022), and First Loves (2023).
The band has been nominated for several music awards throughout their career, with "Above the Clouds of Pompeii" earning the band a nomination for the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2015. The band received two nominations at the UK Americana Awards in 2016, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Agape".
Berlin
Bear's Den Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shivering away under your coat
Berlin was all covered in snow
All I could offer was a hand to hold
As we made our way to the memorial
You traced your hand along the wall
When they put on the video
All′d be lost
And then at times I'd fall
Like the grandfather I lost before I lost
Raise the roof and spare the trees
And cut you out of my memory
Leave my world just black and white
Snatch the sun out of the sky
For the only colour in my life
Is the memory of you and I
Oh, for every crime that I commit
There′s another punishment to fit
"I'm sorry" is an endless corridor
But behind each every open door
All my doubts, my fears my sins
I don't know how to begin
It′s a maze within a maze
Without, within
My mind, my mind, my labyrinth
I can′t forget you
I try all the time
I can't forget you
Berlin, with your hand in mine
So happy is the blameless vestals love
The war forgetting by the world forgot
Is it eternal sunshine or endless dark?
Or just a branch left hanging by the bark
Maybe there are victories and defeats
That slip through the cracks of history
We′re just two little people in the sea
But know that it meant everything to me
I can't forget you
I try all the time
I can′t forget you
Berlin, with your hand in mine
The cold wind made your cheeks glow
Shivering away under your coat
Berlin was all covered in snow
All I could offer was a hand to hold
As we made our way to the memorial
You traced your hand along the wall
When they put on the video
I felt your hand tighten in mine
You are always on my mind
I can't forget you
I try all the time
I can′t forget you
Berlin, with your hand in mine
The song "Berlin" by Bear's Den tells the story of two people who visit Berlin, a city that carries with it the weight of its history, particularly its role in World War II and the Cold War. The cold wind and snow create a somber atmosphere, but the two find solace in each other's company as they explore the city, visiting the city's memorial and tracing their hands along the Berlin Wall. The video they watch during their visit brings up difficult emotions, but they find comfort in holding each other's hands. The song explores themes of love, loss, and memory, highlighting the power of human connection in times of darkness.
The lyrics of "Berlin" are specific to the city, but its themes are universal. It speaks to the power of memory, the desire to hold onto the past even as time moves forward. The song acknowledges the pain that comes with letting go, but ultimately suggests that the memories we hold onto are what keep us connected to those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
The cold wind made your cheeks glow
The chilly wind made your cheeks red and rosy.
Shivering away under your coat
You were shivering with cold under your coat.
Berlin was all covered in snow
The whole of Berlin city was covered in a blanket of snow.
All I could offer was a hand to hold
I couldn't offer you anything except a hand to hold.
As we made our way to the memorial
As we walked towards the memorial
You traced your hand along the wall
You ran your hand along the wall.
When they put on the video
When they played the video on the screen.
I felt your hand tighten in mine
I felt your hand grip mine tight.
All'd be lost
Everything would be gone.
And then at times I'd fall
At times, I used to feel defeated and lost.
Like the grandfather I lost before I lost
Like my grandfather whom I lost long before he passed away.
Raise the roof and spare the trees
Celebrate and party without damaging nature.
And cut you out of my memory
Delete all memories of you from my mind.
Leave my world just black and white
Make my world colourless.
Snatch the sun out of the sky
Take away the sunshine from the sky.
For the only colour in my life
The only colour left in my life.
Is the memory of you and I
Is the memory of just us two together.
Oh, for every crime that I commit
Oh, for every mistake that I make.
There's another punishment to fit
There's always another punishment that fits.
"I'm sorry" is an endless corridor
Saying sorry is like an endless journey.
But behind each every open door
But behind every door that opens up.
All my doubts, my fears my sins
All my doubts, fears, and mistakes.
I don't know how to begin
I don't know where to start.
It's a maze within a maze
It's a puzzle within a puzzle.
Without, within
It's both outside and inside.
My mind, my mind, my labyrinth
My mind feels like a maze or a labyrinth.
I can't forget you
I cannot forget you.
I try all the time
I try very hard all the time.
Berlin, with your hand in mine
Berlin, with your hand in mine.
So happy is the blameless vestals love
The pure, guilt-free love is always happy and content.
The war forgetting by the world forgot
The war is now forgotten by the world.
Is it eternal sunshine or endless dark?
Is it an eternal bright future or a dark one without end?
Or just a branch left hanging by the bark
Or just a branch left hanging by the bark.
Maybe there are victories and defeats
Maybe there are some victories and defeats.
That slip through the cracks of history
That are lost or overlooked by history.
We're just two little people in the sea
We are just two insignificant people in this vast world.
But know that it meant everything to me
But for me, it was everything.
You are always on my mind
I always think of you.
Berlin, with your hand in mine
Berlin, with your hand in mine.
I can't forget you
I cannot forget you.
I try all the time
I try very hard all the time.
I can't forget you
I cannot forget you.
Berlin, with your hand in mine
Berlin, with your hand in mine.
Writer(s): Kevin Jones, Andrew Davie
Contributed by Christian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.