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.
Easier
Grizzly Bear Lyrics
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The pipes all froze, just let it go.
Argue with me, I've got plenty of dishes and time,
Cords in a bind, knots that we make,
Fatal mistakes, let's recreate an easier time.
Because I still can't find you.
The lyrics to Grizzly Bear's song Easier express a sense of frustration, but also a desire for simplicity and ease. The singer seems to be acknowledging that things are not going well - the doors won't close, the pipes are frozen - but rather than getting caught up in these difficulties, they suggest "just let it go." The second line seems to imply that this situation is beyond their control, so they are choosing not to dwell on it.
The next few lines suggest that the singer is in a conflict with someone ("Argue with me..."), but they also seem to have a lot of time to spare. The cords and knots could be interpreted to mean that things are tangled up and complicated, but the next line adds "fatal mistakes" to the mix, suggesting that there are serious consequences to this conflict. Despite this, the singer seems to suggest that they could try to recreate an easier time - perhaps looking back to a time before the conflict started, when things were simpler and more straightforward.
The final line, "Because I still can't find you," adds another layer to the song. It could suggest that the singer has lost touch with someone important to them, and that this is the source of their conflict and frustration. This theme of searching for someone or something that is missing or lost is a common one in Grizzly Bear's music. Overall, the lyrics to Easier express a mixture of resignation and hope, acknowledging that things may be difficult now but looking for ways to move forward and find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I know, I know, the doors won't close
I am aware that the doors are not closing properly
The pipes all froze, just let it go.
The pipes have frozen and we should accept that fact
Argue with me, I've got plenty of dishes and time,
You can argue with me if you want, but I have enough household chores and leisure time
Cords in a bind, knots that we make,
We are stuck in a situation that we created
Fatal mistakes, let's recreate an easier time.
We have made critical errors and should attempt to return to a simpler, less problematic period
Because I still can't find you.
I am still unable to locate you, despite everything that has happened
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EDWARD DROSTE, DANIEL ROSSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind