Jon Philpot has previously released music as part of the duo Presocratics, in collaboration with guitarist and composer Need Thomas Windham. Presocratics released two albums on the record label Table of the Elements in 2001; both were produced by Philpot.
The first Bear in Heaven release (Tunes Nextdoor to Songs, Eastern Developments 2003) was an EP of solo recordings by Philpot, recorded in Atlanta, Georgia, with guest musicians performing on various instruments. Shortly after the release of Tunes Nextdoor to Songs, Philpot moved to Brooklyn, New York and joined with guitarist Adam Wills, keyboardist/guitarist Sadek Bazaraa (a graphic designer with Brooklyn design collective GH avisualagency), guitarist David Daniell (of San Agustin), and bassist James Elliott (Ateleia, School of Seven Bells). Eventually drummer Joe Stickney (drummer with Paul Duncan, Rhys Chatham's Essentialist project, and current touring drummer with Panthers) was added to the lineup. Daniell left Bear in Heaven in 2005 to focus on his solo project.
Red Bloom of the Boom, Bear in Heaven's first full-length album with the full band, was released in 2007 by the Hometapes record label.
Elliott left the band after the completion of the recordings of Red Bloom of the Boom to focus on School of Seven Bells and his solo project, Ateleia. Bear in Heaven now performs as a four-piece with Philpot on vocals, guitar and keyboards; Wills on guitar and bass; Bazaraa on bass and keyboards; and Stickney on drums.
Discography
Red Bloom of the Boom - Hometapes CD, 2007
Tunes Nextdoor to Songs - Eastern Developments CDEP, 2003
Beast Rest Forth Mouth - Hometapes
The Reflection of You
Bear in Heaven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It feels like a thousand years have gone by without you
I miss someone like you
I wanna tell you secret things
My lips won't say anything that make sense
I wanna run to you
But my legs won't respond
Exactly what you are
If you come dance with me
I think you will like my moves
If you get next to me
I will have nothing left to prove
Here I am
There you are
Just inches away
But still too far
Look in my eyes
You'll see the reflection of you
In me, On me, my eyes
I have nothing left to prove
I wanna run to you
But my legs won't respond
I wanna know
Exactly what you are
If you come dance with me
I think you will like my moves
If you get next to me
I will have nothing left to prove
Here I am
There you are
There's nothing left between us
Nothing left between us
So dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
The lyrics to Bear in Heaven's song "The Reflection of You" are a passionate declaration of longing, desire, and ultimately surrender to another person. The singer of the song is deeply enamored with someone who is apparently not present, and is experiencing a complex mix of emotions: yearning, frustration, and a deep hunger to connect with and be seen by this person. The opening lines, "Daylight won't stop the flashing lights, it feels like a thousand years have gone by without you," suggest that the passage of time has only heightened the singer's desire for this person, and that even the light of day cannot dispel the feeling of disconnection and absence.
The chorus of the song allows the singer to express their desire more directly: "I wanna run to you, but my legs won't respond, I wanna know exactly what you are." This plea to the object of their affection contains both physical and emotional elements: the singer wants to be closer to this person in a tangible sense, but also to know more about them as a person. The lines "If you come dance with me, I think you will like my moves / If you get next to me, I will have nothing left to prove" suggest that the singer believes they can win this person over if only they can get close enough to them, and that they are willing to go to great lengths to do so.
Overall, "The Reflection of You" is a deeply emotive and affecting song that captures the intensity of romantic desire and the longing for connection that it can inspire. It is a powerful tribute to the complexity of human relationships and the profound ways in which we can be affected by the presence (or absence) of another person in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Daylight won't stop the flashing lights
Despite the passing of time, the author of the song is constantly reminded of their past relationship through various vivid memories.
It feels like a thousand years have gone by without you
The author is experiencing a prolonged sense of loneliness and is eager to reunite with their former partner.
I miss someone like you
The author is reminiscing about their lost relationship and longs to find someone similar to fill the void.
I wanna tell you secret things
The author desires to share their intimate feelings and thoughts with their former partner.
My lips won't say anything that make sense
The author feels that their feelings are indescribable and is having difficulty verbalizing their emotions.
I wanna run to you
The author desires to be reunited with their former partner.
But my legs won't respond
The author feels crippled by their emotions and is unable to take action to pursue their desires.
I wanna know
The author seeks clarity about their former partner's true intentions and feelings towards them.
Exactly what you are
The author seeks to uncover their former partner's true identity and nature.
If you come dance with me
The author wishes to reconnect with their former partner and is inviting them to join them in a moment of intimacy and joy.
I think you will like my moves
The author is confident in their ability to make their former partner happy and is hopeful that they will enjoy their company.
If you get next to me
The author desires physical closeness and intimacy with their former partner.
I will have nothing left to prove
The author feels that their desire for their former partner is self-evident and does not require any further explanation or justification.
Here I am
The author is present and ready to reconnect with their former partner.
There you are
The author's former partner is nearby and within reach.
Just inches away
Despite being close, the author still feels a sense of distance and detachment from their former partner.
But still too far
The author's desire for their former partner is hindered by emotional barriers and unresolved issues.
Look in my eyes
The author invites their former partner to connect with them on a deeper emotional level and to see their true feelings.
You'll see the reflection of you
The author's emotions are interconnected with their former partner's and their former partner's presence reflects and affects their own emotions.
In me, On me, my eyes
The author is expressing the profound extent to which their former partner is still present in their mind and heart.
There's nothing left between us
The author realizes that their past relationship has ended and there is no hope for rekindling it.
So dance with me
Despite the pain and disappointment of their failed relationship, the author still desires intimacy and connection with their former partner.
Dance with me
The author repeats their invitation to their former partner to join them in a moment of joy and intimacy, hoping to bridge the emotional distance between them.
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.