Reitherman was born in Burbank, California. He provided the voices of Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree and Terry Dexter in Here Comes the Grump (1969–1971). He also performed the song "Little Black Rain Cloud" for Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.
After graduating from U.C. Berkeley in 1977 with an independent major in Natural Resources and a minor in Spanish, subsequent work experience included stints as a river guide, field biologist, naturalist, expedition leader and biological consultant.
He restarted his career as a cameraman, producer, writer and director, in the 1990s in shows like In the Wild, Nature, and Big Bear Week.
Reitherman lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife, artist Erika Hill, and their daughter Camilla.
The Bare Necessities
Bruce Reitherman Lyrics
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The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Oh, man, this is really living
So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife, yeah man
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Yeah, with just the bare necessities of life, yeah man
"The Bare Necessities" is a song about finding comfort and simplicity in life. The lyrics encourage the listener to forget about their worries and focus on the bare necessities, which are provided by Mother Nature. This is exemplified by the bees buzzing in trees to make honey and the ants carrying out their daily tasks. The singer reminds us that we don't need to work too hard and should enjoy life's simple pleasures. The song teaches a valuable lesson about finding happiness in what we already have rather than constantly searching for more.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song by encouraging listeners to look for the simple things in life. The singer tells us to forget about our worries and focus on the bare necessities that Mother Nature has provided. The second verse is an ode to home, and it reminds us that we can find the bare necessities wherever we may roam. It also reflects on the idea that all animals have basic needs and simple pleasures that bring them joy, just as humans do.
The third verse is a bit of a cautionary tale, warning the listener not to take more than they need. It's a reminder that sometimes less is more and that too much of a good thing can be harmful. The chorus is a continuation of the first verse, reinforcing the idea that we should seek out and appreciate the simple things in life.
Overall, "The Bare Necessities" is a joyful song that celebrates the beauty of simplicity and encourages listeners to find happiness in the things they already possess.
Line by Line Meaning
Look for the bare necessities
Search for the essential things in life
The simple bare necessities
The basic, uncomplicated necessities of life
Forget about your worries and your strife
Don't let stress and problems trouble you
I mean the bare necessities
I'm emphasizing the importance of the essentials
Old Mother Nature's recipes
The natural resources that provide the bare necessities
That brings the bare necessities of life
Those resources provide what we need to live
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
No matter where I go or what I do
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
I'm grateful for my comfortable living space
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
Bees are busy gathering nectar from flowers
To make some honey just for me
They'll eventually make delicious honey to be enjoyed
When you look under the rocks and plants
Observing the natural world
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Noticing the complex behavior of other living creatures
Then maybe try a few
Consider exploring the natural world firsthand
The bare necessities of life will come to you
You'll acquire what you need to live
They'll come to you!
You'll obtain those necessities without much effort
That's why a bear can rest at ease
Bears can live comfortably with just the essentials
Now when you pick a pawpaw
When you harvest a fruit
Or a prickly pear
Or a kind of cactus
And you prick a raw paw
And you injure your hand
Well next time beware
Be cautious in the future
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
Don't handle the spiny fruit directly
When you pick a pear
When you harvest a different fruit
Try to use the claw
Use some sort of tool to handle it
But you don't need to use the claw
You may not always need a tool
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
When you harvest a different kind of fruit
Have I given you a clue?
Did I provide a helpful hint?
Oh man this is really living
This is what living is all about
So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Stay calm and composed
Fall apart in my backyard
Relax and let go of your worries
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
Listen, here's a piece of advice
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
Don't work too hard, like a busy bee
You're working too hard
You're overexerting yourself
And don't spend your time lookin' around
Don't waste your energy searching unnecessarily
For something you want that can't be found
Don't chase after something that's unattainable
When you find out you can live without it
When you realize you don't really need it
And go along not thinkin' about it
And carry on without dwelling on it
I'll tell you something true
Here's a fact for you:
The bare necessities of life will come to you
You'll obtain what you need without much effort
Look for the bare necessities
Seek out the essential things in life
The simple bare necessities
The basic, uncomplicated things we need to live
Forget about your worries and your strife
Don't let stress and problems trouble you
I mean the bare necessities
I'm emphasizing the importance of the essentials
That's why a bear can rest at ease
Bears can live comfortably with just the essentials
With just the bare necessities of life
With only what we need to survive
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Terry Gilkyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind