Boy & Bear are an Australian folk rock band, based out of Sydney, New South… Read Full Bio ↴Boy & Bear are an Australian folk rock band, based out of Sydney, New South Wales. The band began as a solo project for singer-songwriter Dave Hosking in 2009) before quickly expanding into a full band. In February 2009, Hosking uploaded a track, "The Storm", to the Unearthed program on radio station Triple J, it became a featured song at the station. Hosking had met Killian Gavin who was a singer-songwriter and guitarist in Ovell, and the pair started jamming together. Tim Hart, from another university band Wintersound, joined as a drummer and singer-songwriter. Then they expanded with Jake Tarasenko (ex-Tripartisan Approach) on bass guitar. All four had fronted their own groups and became friends after regularly sharing the stage at gigs.

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."

Part Time Believer
Boy & Bear Lyrics

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We've run out of reasons
Losing sight of what it's supposed to be
A part time believer, still true
We've somehow conceded
This sense of self-evasive solitude
It means way too much to me

And I hope you know how lucky you are

Oh, I remember sitting back on my balcony
I was a-listening to the Rolling Stones
See I was waiting for my dad to come home from work
So I could show him all the chords that I'd learned
See I was under the impression I was gonna lead
Some kind of simple, understated life
But now I'm living in the shadows of a memory
And I hope so, man I hope so, oh oh oh

It's been way too long
It seems that I can celebrate my meaning
For I am too young, too warm
The fib won't release
It pulls and it pushes me
Till I wither, till I wither, till I wither

And I hope you know how lucky you are

Oh, I remember sitting back on my balcony
I was a-listening to the Rolling Stones
See I was waiting for my dad to come home from work
So I could show him all the chords that I've learned
See I was under the impression I was gonna lead
Some kind of simple understated life
But now I'm living in the shadows of a memory
And I hope so, man I hope so, oh oh oh

And no, you dare
You run like a lion
To defend your senses
And oh it seems it cuts to the core

It's not the same my friend no more
No oh oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Part Time Believer" by Boy & Bear is a melancholic reflection on lost ambitions and self-doubt. The opening lines, "We've run out of reasons/Losing sight of what it's supposed to be," suggest a feeling of disillusionment and confusion. The singer seems to be in a state of self-doubt, describing himself as a "part time believer" who has "conceded" to a sense of "self-evasive solitude." His conviction has weakened, and he feels lost and unsure of his place in the world.

The singer reflects on his past aspirations of leading a simple and understated life. He reminisces about sitting on his balcony, listening to the Rolling Stones and waiting for his dad to come home so he could show him all the chords he had learned. He had hoped to achieve something meaningful but now finds himself "living in the shadows of a memory" of his former self. The chorus "And I hope you know how lucky you are" suggests the singer is envious of those who have found their purpose and have a clear sense of direction in life.

The final verse conveys a sense of frustration and hopelessness. The singer laments that it has been "way too long" since he has felt like celebrating his meaning in life. He describes feeling held back by a "fib" that won't release, pulling and pushing him until he withers away. The final lines "And no, you dare/You run like a lion/To defend your senses/And oh it seems it cuts to the core/It's not the same my friend no more" suggest that the singer is trying to muster up the courage to push past his insecurities and regain control of his life.

Overall, "Part Time Believer" is a poignant and relatable exploration of self-doubt and the search for purpose in life.

Line by Line Meaning

We've run out of reasons
We have exhausted all our reasons

Losing sight of what it's supposed to be
We have lost focus on what is expected

A part time believer, still true
Despite being a part-time believer, I am still committed

We've somehow conceded
We have somehow given up

This sense of self-evasive solitude
The feeling of avoiding oneself seems too strong

It means way too much to me
This issue is important to me

And I hope you know how lucky you are
I hope you appreciate how fortunate you are

Oh, I remember sitting back on my balcony
I recall relaxing on my balcony

I was a-listening to the Rolling Stones
I was listening to Rolling Stones music

See I was waiting for my dad to come home from work
I was waiting for my father to return home from work

So I could show him all the chords that I'd learned
So that I could display all the chords I had acquired

See I was under the impression I was gonna lead
I was under the impression that I would lead

Some kind of simple, understated life
I thought my life would be simple and modest

But now I'm living in the shadows of a memory
But now I am living in the recollections of past events

And I hope so, man I hope so, oh oh oh
I truly desire that things will turn out better, really

It's been way too long
It's been much too long

It seems that I can celebrate my meaning
It appears that I am able to appreciate my purpose

For I am too young, too warm
Because I am too inexperienced, too optimistic

The fib won't release
The falsehood won't leave

It pulls and it pushes me
It drags and propels me

Till I wither, till I wither, till I wither
Until I shrivel up and die

And no, you dare
And I forbid you from trying

You run like a lion
You run like a ferocious animal

To defend your senses
To protect your perceptions

And oh it seems it cuts to the core
And it evidently strikes at the heart of the matter

It's not the same my friend no more
It's not the way it used to be anymore, my friend

No oh oh
No, no, no

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID HOSKING, JACOB TARASENKO, JONATHAN HART, KILLIAN GAVIN, TIMOTHY HART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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