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".
Pompeii
Bear's Den Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pompeii beneath, she lay above
How she haunted our home
How she haunted our home
You were a god in my eyes
Above the clouds, above the skies
You were a god in my eyes
You took me walking through the town
Showed me the statues underground
Said just don't they look in peace
Sometimes I wish that was me
I was the son you always had
Tugging at your coat when you were sad
I was the son you always had
I was the son you always had
Don't cry
Hold your head up high
She would want you to
She would want you to
Just don't cry
Hold your head up high
She would want you to
She would want you to
You said stay in the car and wait
There's just some things I have to say
Don't you know I miss her, too
I miss her just as much as you
So my father and my son
As you end what she's begun
You'll lie patient by her side
With roses red come lilies white
I was too young to understand
The flowers slipping from your hands
I was too young to understand
I was too young to understand
I was too young to understand
The flowers sleeping in her hands
I was too young to understand
I was too young to understand
Don't cry
Hold your head up high
She would want you to
She would want you to
Please, just don't cry
Hold your head up high
She would want you to
She would want you to
And just don't cry
Hold your head up high
She would want you to
She would want you to
Please, just don't cry
Hold your head up high
She would want you to
She would want you to
The Bear's Den's song "Above the Clouds of Pompeii" is a poignant exploration of grief, loss, and the feeling of being haunted by the past. The first verse tells of the singer's home built on the slopes of Pompeii, with the town's history haunting them. The second verse explores the relationship between the singer and their father, who they saw as a god-like figure. The father takes his child on walks around the town and shows them the underground statues. The child wishes for peace, and the father is portrayed as a grieving figure.
The chorus then echoes throughout the song, as the father tells his child to hold their head up high and not to cry, as that is what the mother would have wanted. The bridge of the song is the most heart-wrenching, as the father reveals that they are visiting the mother's grave. He speaks to her, acknowledging his own grief, and telling her that he misses her just as much as their child. The last verse then shows the father and child lying by the mother's side, with flowers in their hands, symbolizing their lost love.
The lyrics are powerful and emotional, with the song's instrumentation building as the narrative unfolds, adding to the mounting sense of loss and grief. The song beautifully captures the nuances of the grief process, as well as the importance of support and empathy in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
We built our home out on the slopes
We constructed our dwelling on the slopes
Pompeii beneath, she lay above
The ruins of Pompeii were situated below our home
How she haunted our home
Pompeii's history left a lasting impact on our dwelling
You were a god in my eyes
I held you in high regard, as if you were a divine figure
Above the clouds, above the skies
I viewed you as superior, almost otherworldly
You took me walking through the town
You showed me around the area
Showed me the statues underground
You revealed the underground statues to me
Said just don't they look in peace
You remarked how peaceful the statues looked
Sometimes I wish that was me
I found myself yearning for that same sense of calm
I was the son you always had
I was like a son to you, always seeking your approval and attention
Tugging at your coat when you were sad
I would try to comfort you during times of sorrow
Don't cry
Please refrain from shedding tears
Hold your head up high
Stay strong and resilient
She would want you to
Pompeii, or perhaps a loved one, would want you to be strong
You said stay in the car and wait
You instructed me to remain in the vehicle and be patient
There's just some things I have to say
You had some important things to share with me
Don't you know I miss her, too
I also feel a sense of loss and longing for her
I miss her just as much as you
My grief is as profound as yours
So my father and my son
As the father and son in this scenario
As you end what she's begun
As you complete the tasks she started
You'll lie patient by her side
You'll rest next to her, staying calm and collected
With roses red come lilies white
With a bouquet of red roses and white lilies
I was too young to understand
I was too naive to comprehend
The flowers slipping from your hands
The flowers dropping from your grasp
The flowers sleeping in her hands
The flowers resting in her palms
Please, just don't cry
I implore you to not cry
Lyrics Ā© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Donald John Davie, Johannes Egenberg Refsdal, Kevin Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cuchalainn
Remember that time we met downtown and you showed me everything the normal people couldn't see
From that day on I felt Like it was me and you against em all
I could already see our home our kids and all your smiles
Miles ahead somehow I just knew it would all one day be true
Now it's all gone
Begin again I must
Old and alone
Without your smiles to come home to
Without you
Remembering makes it so much more sad but it s all of you that s left for me now
marmel
this song is like a hug
AimƩe Delicia Oliver
marmel yes!!
It Belongs In A Museum
I've got to say, I prefer this version to the re-released 'Above the Clouds of Pompeii'. Ā They're both phenomenal, obviously, but the simplicity of this one always gave me goosebumps. Ā It felt more as if the kid whose perspective it was being told from was playing it? Ā I don't know. Ā They're both incredible but....Maybe it's because I heard this version first and imprinted on it or something.
Matthew Blunt
Yep agree, the album release almost felt sped up.
AGH331
Yes, I much prefer this one too.
murky water
It Belongs In A Museum sometimes simplicity really is best. especially regarding songs of this nature. it's quiet and soft just as the message of the song. the composition and medium reflects the meaning in a way
Matthew Heiser
hey... hi there,, i totaly agree..this version gripped my soul and ,for me, its the only version..
quietpianist
I lost my mom last year. This song makes me cry, but the memories it brings are worth every tear. Thank you.
Hal
Nearly all of the songs by Bear's Den give off a really, truly emotional and genuine feeling. It's kind of bittersweet to listen to their songs, but I guess I love that, since this is one of my favorite songs ever.
Stephanie Wood
you dont really know how good music is until it brings out true emotion, this song is so beautifully written, the strings in the background bring a slightly happier theme but the lyrics are wonderfully composed that it makes you want to cry. truly one of the best songs i've heard Ā