Foreground
Grizzly Bear Lyrics

The lyrics to Grizzly Bear's Foreground seem to explore the mundanity and repetitiveness of daily life, specifically in regards to work. The first two lines suggest the beginning of a shift, possibly in a factory or other manual labor job where everyone is starting to gather around. The repetition of "middle" in the line "palms in the middle, hands in the middle" could refer to a ritualistic or mechanical aspect of the work, where everyone has to align their hands in a certain way. The line "work out another rift" could mean a conflict or problem that needs to be solved amongst coworkers or with the job itself, but it's something that can't be fully understood as "something is muffled". The word "juggle" could also mean multitasking or managing different responsibilities while on the job.

The chorus is repeated twice and emphasizes the phrase "this is a foreground". This could have multiple interpretations, but it seems to suggest that the current situation, which may feel repetitive or uninteresting, is important and deserves attention. The following verse describes a "cross country miss" which could refer to a missed opportunity or mistake in planning that results in directions not being properly followed. The line "ten detected, nine in a wreck" could mean there were ten planned steps but only nine were able to be executed, causing issues ("in a wreck"). The line "a little jetty fight" is ambiguous but the words "pattern evolving" and "motion insolvent" suggest that there is some kind of conflict or grappling with a changing situation. The last line "take all evening, I'll just be cleaning" highlights the idea of being stuck in one place or task for a long time.

Overall, the lyrics of Foreground seem to convey a sense of being trapped in a mundane or repetitive job, but emphasizing the importance and value of the present moment. The song's instrumentation and vocals amplify this theme and create a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere.