After winning the 2009 Unearthed competition, they gained a performance spot at the Australasian music festival Homebake. In 2010, Tim's brother Jon Hart joined the band as an official member; contributing vocals, mandolin, banjo and keyboards. They toured Australia opening for Angus and Julia Stone as a three-piece, with Tarasenko and Hart in London playing in Laura Marling's backing band. In May 2010, Boy & Bear released their debut extended play, With Emperor Antarctica. They then recorded the song "Fall at Your Feet" for He Will Have His Way, a tribute album to singer-songwriter brothers, Tim and Neil Finn. Boy & Bear's version of "Fall at Your Feet" was listed at No. 5 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2010. Another of their tracks, "Rabbit Song" was placed at No. 45.
In November 2010, their cover of "Fall at Your Feet" peaked at No. 34 on the ARIA Singles Chart. On 5 August 2011, Boy & Bear released their debut album Moonfire. It was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with producer, Joe Chiccarelli and reached No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. In December, it had finished third in the Triple J album poll of 2011. On the Triple J Hottest 100, 2011 Boy & Bear were listed three times, "Part Time Believer" and "Milk & Sticks" at No. 50 and No. 49, respectively. While "Feeding Line" reached No. 4. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011 Boy & Bear won in five categories: Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Feeding Line"; and Album of the Year, Best Group, Breakthrough Artist – Album and Best Adult Alternative Release for Moonfire.
In late 2012, the band announced that they had parted ways with Tarasenko. His replacement was Dave Symes, formerly of Seeker Lover Keeper and of Sarah Blasko's live backing band.
Boy & Bear released their second album on 16 August 2013, titled Harlequin Dream. It debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts. Two singles were released from the album - "Southern Sun" and "Three-Headed Woman."
Harlequin Dream
Boy & Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cos' you don't look the same
How the devil takes his toll
When you go walking through that flame
And I'm not saying it's been easy
But you know all too well
That you cannot replace the space
So we run through the jungle
And I can feel the rhythm of war
You see I'm fighting
But I just can't fight anymore
I'm in awe
So we'll give ourselves to the Harlequin Dream
Giving over all our friends and our family
And we'll say goodbye to the world that we love
For I can no longer deny my blood
And now you're taking on a kingdom
I'm ravenous for more
An appetite so beautiful
But vacant to it's core
I've been living on my instincts
So you better run
You better keep moving along
For it seems I have been wondering
Far too long
So we run through the jungle
And I can feel the rhythm of war
You see I'm fighting
But I just can't fight anymore
I'm in awe
So we'll give ourselves to the Harlequin Dream
Giving over all our friends and our family
And we'll say goodbye to the world that we love
For I can no longer deny my blood
The lyrics to Boy & Bear's song Harlequin Dream describe a sense of loss and desperation in the face of change. The singer is worried about someone he cares about ("you don't look the same"), and he understands the toll that change - in this case, metaphorically represented by fire - can take on a person. He values the unique spirit that his friend once had, and laments the fact that it can never be replaced. The image of running through a jungle and feeling the "rhythm of war" suggests that there is conflict or struggle involved in this change, and the singer feels like he's fighting a losing battle ("I'm fighting but I just can't fight anymore").
Line by Line Meaning
And I've been worried for a while now
I have been concerned for some time
Cos' you don't look the same
Because you have changed in a noticeable way
How the devil takes his toll
The negative effects of difficult experiences
When you go walking through that flame
When you go through a difficult period
And I'm not saying it's been easy
It has not been a smooth journey
But you know all too well
But you are aware and understand
That you cannot replace the space
The unique place you once held cannot be replaced
Your spirit had once held
The essence of who you used to be
So we run through the jungle
We navigate through life's challenges
And I can feel the rhythm of war
The intensity of the struggle
You see I'm fighting
I am putting up a fight
But I just can't fight anymore
But I have reached my limit
I'm in awe
I am overwhelmed
So we'll give ourselves to the Harlequin Dream
We will surrender to our desires and ambitions
Giving over all our friends and our family
Even if it means sacrificing those closest to us
And we'll say goodbye to the world that we love
We will let go of what we hold dear
For I can no longer deny my blood
Because it is who I am
And now you're taking on a kingdom
You are taking control
I'm ravenous for more
I crave even greater success
An appetite so beautiful
A desire so alluring
But vacant to it's core
But ultimately unsatisfying
I've been living on my instincts
I have been following my natural impulses
So you better run
So you better be prepared to face me
You better keep moving along
You better keep progressing
For it seems I have been wondering
Because I have been lost and wandering
Far too long
For an extended period of time
Contributed by Gianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.