Grizzly Bear is a rock band from Brooklyn, New York. Their music uses melod… Read Full Bio ↴Grizzly Bear is a rock band from Brooklyn, New York. Their music uses melody and ambience in conjunction with hazy-eyed choruses, whistles, piano, banjo, and several woodwind instruments.

Grizzly Bear was originally the solo project of Edward Droste (vocals/guitar), who recorded his debut album Horn of Plenty at home. The record was originally meant for his friends, but it eventually circulated and got a proper release in 2004, this time with the help of Christopher Bear (drums/vocals). A re-release with a bonus disc of remixes was issued in 2005.

2005 also saw the addition of the two other band members, Chris Taylor (woodwinds/electronics/engineering/production) and Daniel Rossen (vocals/guitar). Playing as a four piece allowed the complexity of sound that was recorded on Horn of Plenty to be played live. The band toured throughout the year, playing songs off the first album as well as some of the new songs they were collectively writing that would make up Yellow House.

An album of Droste's early demo recordings, Sorry for the Delay, was released in 2006. Later that year they signed to Warp to release Yellow House on September 4th, 2006, to great acclaim.

In 2007, the band released Friend EP, which features outtakes, alternate versions, and covers done by CSS, Band of Horses, and Atlas Sound. In addition, members of the Dirty Projectors and Beirut collaborated with the band on "Alligator" and the EP's hidden track.

The band released their third full length album, Veckatimest, on May 26, 2009. After extensive touring, the band took a six month hiatus and then reconvened to record in Marfa, Texas and Cape Cod and released their fourth full length album, Shields, on September 18, 2012.

Blackcurrant Jam
Grizzly Bear Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Blackcurrant jam is the nicest jam
The nicest jam you can have,
You can have, you can have,
You can have, you can have

And in the olden times they would put it on wounds

You can have

Strawberry
You can have
Blueberry
You can have
Raspberry
You can have

Blackcurrant jam is the nicest jam

The nicest jam you can have
And in the olden times they would put it on wounds

Overall Meaning

The song "Blackcurrant Jam" by Grizzly Bear is a whimsical and quirky ode to the titular preserve. In the song, the singer proclaims that blackcurrant jam is the "nicest jam" one can have, repeating the phrase four times to emphasize its importance. The repetition serves to highlight the idea that blackcurrant jam is both universally loved and highly coveted. The obsession with blackcurrant jam is further reinforced by the fact that in "the olden times," people would put it on their wounds. This unusual detail adds another layer of quirkiness to the song, suggesting that blackcurrant jam has legendary and mystical properties.

What's interesting about this song is its use of food to explore deeper themes. It's easy to take "Blackcurrant Jam" at face value as a light-hearted ode to a delicious treat, but by examining the lyrics more deeply, one can draw parallels between the song's message and human desires. The repeated phrase "you can have" implies that the song is about achievement and abundance; the singer is telling us that we can have anything we desire, just like we can have any type of jam. Additionally, the idea of putting blackcurrant jam on wounds speaks to the idea of healing and redemption. Perhaps the song is suggesting that the sweetness and comfort of blackcurrant jam has the power to heal emotional wounds, just as it was used in the past to heal physical ones.

Line by Line Meaning

Blackcurrant jam is the nicest jam
This particular jam made from blackcurrant is considered the most pleasant of all types of jams.

The nicest jam you can have,
It is opined that this jam made from blackcurrant is the best amongst all other varieties of jams.

You can have, you can have,
This line emphasizes the possibility of others having a different choice, even if blackcurrant jam is the singer's personal favorite.

And in the olden times they would put it on wounds
Back in time, the blackcurrant jam was used to apply over injuries like a medical ointment.

You can have Strawberry You can have Blueberry You can have Raspberry You can have
Although blackcurrant jam is the artist's favorite, replaced here are other fruit flavors one can have in the wild forest.

Blackcurrant jam is the nicest jam
The song comes to an end with the singer re-emphasizing the superiority and deliciousness of blackcurrant jam over all other types of jams.

Contributed by Allison C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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