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.

Fragments
Grizzly Bear Lyrics

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Hold my thoughts, I′m at an impasse
Past the place I stopped before
The sweeper's sweeping fragments
Of my head out the door
And the ice it burns upon my forehead
The calmness starts to scream
Must I always hold the upright?
When my soul longs to dreamIs it too much to find an answer?

Is it too much to hold you close?
Is it too much to find a reason?
Is it too much to free my soul
From self control?
I can′t get it any better
I always end up killing time
Time for love and time for living
Time to find what's really mineIs it too much to find an answer?
Is it too much to hold you close?
Is it too much to find a reason?
Is it too much to free my soul
From self control?
Is it too much to find an answer?
Is it too much to hold you close?
Is it too much to find a reason?
Is it too much to free my soul
From self control?
And I know you're always waiting for me
You take me far away
And I know you′re holding me
And it′s better now

And it's better now
And it′s better now

Overall Meaning

The song Fragments by Grizzly Bear is about feeling trapped in one's thoughts and emotions, and the struggle to find freedom from the self-control that holds us down. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and confusion, as the singer grapples with their inner conflict. The first verse sets the scene, as the singer says they are at an impasse, past the point where they stopped before. They describe their thoughts as fragments that need to be swept away, and the ice burning on their forehead, indicating the intense emotional strain they are under.

In the chorus, the singer asks a series of questions, which express their desire for something more. They wonder if it's too much to ask for answers, to hold someone close, to find a reason for their struggles, and to free their soul from self-control. These questions are a plea for help or guidance, as the singer seems to be lost and unsure of how to move forward.

The second verse continues the theme of searching for meaning in life, as the singer laments the time they have wasted on things that don't matter. They long for love, but also for a deeper connection to themselves and their true purpose. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's need for clarity and release from their internal struggles. The final lines suggest that they have found some solace in another person, who takes them away from their problems and helps them to feel better.

Overall, Fragments is a poignant and relatable song about the human experience. It speaks to the universal desire for connection and meaning in life, and the difficulty of breaking free from the internal barriers that hold us back.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold my thoughts, I'm at an impasse
I'm stuck and can't think straight

Past the place I stopped before
I've been here before and couldn't move forward

The sweeper's sweeping fragments of my head out the door
I'm trying to clear my mind and move on from the past

And the ice it burns upon my forehead
The cold reality hurts me emotionally

The calmness starts to scream
The silence is overwhelming and deafening

Must I always hold the upright?
Do I always have to be strong and not show my vulnerabilities?

When my soul longs to dream
I want to escape from my reality and dream

Is it too much to find an answer?
Am I asking for too much in trying to find a solution?

Is it too much to hold you close?
Is it asking for too much to be with you?

Is it too much to find a reason?
Is it too difficult to understand why things happen?

Is it too much to free my soul from self control?
Is it asking for too much to be free from my own limitations?