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.
Cut-out
Grizzly Bear Lyrics
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Growing inside of me
Never ever letting go
Medicine is not what I need
Inhale your older self
Cut it up and let it go
Focused on the point that won't be found
Written on your face, the only truth
Pure as ether, that empty room
Can't you see, who you'll see?
What's out in front of you?
A blank sheet
A perfect man is not hard to find
You'll never know the feel
To be a good guy inside
A panorama of all our faults
Looks the same to me
When you're waking up in the dark
The lyrics of Grizzly Bear's song Cut-out depicts a sense of invasion and taking over by an internal force that is too powerful to resist. The first few lines, "You are like an invading spore, Growing inside of me, Never ever letting go, Medicine is not what I need," describe the feeling of being consumed by something that is not easily controlled. The singer's attempts to find a cure is in vain as they breathe in deeper, inhaling their negative self, cutting it out, and releasing it.
The song discusses the illusion of having control when in truth, we have no control over the things that dominate our life. The singer speaks directly to this idea in the second verse. They believe although we believe ourselves to be in control of our lives, we are simply moving through life blindly, walking forward as if we will find something that will make everything clear. However, the perfect man is just an illusion, a facade, with everyone possessing their own set of faults.
Grizzly Bear's song Cut-out has deep meanings and shows how the human mind can feel powerless and unable to control what happens to us. It speaks of gaining insight into our internal workings and acknowledging the things that may have consumed and taken control over us unknowingly. Furthermore, it shows how we have little control over situations and events, thus revealing the illusion of control.
Line by Line Meaning
You are like an invading spore
You are like a parasite that has infiltrated me
Growing inside of me
Progressively spreading and taking root within me
Never ever letting go
Not giving up, not losing its grip on me
Medicine is not what I need
I'm in need of something other than medication
Inhale your older self
Absorb your past, learn from it
Cut it up and let it go
Break free from past mistakes and move forward
Focused on the point that won't be found
Fixated on something that can't be attained
Moving slowly with clear resolve
Making steady progress in a determined manner
Written on your face, the only truth
Your facial expressions reveal your real emotions
Pure as ether, that empty room
Empty yet ethereal, serene in its own way
Can't you see, who you'll see?
Are you not aware of your own identity?
What's out in front of you?
What lies ahead of you?
A blank sheet
An empty canvas with endless possibilities
A perfect man is not hard to find
It's easy to find someone who appears to be perfect
You'll never know the feel
You won't understand the truth about them
To be a good guy inside
To have genuine moral integrity
A panorama of all our faults
A broad view of all our imperfections
Looks the same to me
Appear to be similar or indistinguishable to me
When you're waking up in the dark
When you're feeling lost or disoriented
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Edward Droste, Daniel Rossen, Christopher Taylor, Christopher Robert Bear
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind