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.
Merge
Grizzly Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the fence with you
This I'm always prone to do
Forge something new
And leave it all behind with you
And leave it all behind with you
Back at the front of the...
I see all those boys again
I shift through you
And leave it all behind, it's true
And leave it all behind, it's true
The lyrics of Grizzly Bear's song Merge embody the struggles of making a decision between holding on or letting go of a relationship. The opening line "Stuck on the fence with you" portrays the singer's indecision and uncertainty about the future of the relationship. The following line "This I'm always prone to do" suggests a history of similar situations, indicating that the singer is struggling with a pattern of indecisiveness.
The chorus "Forge something new and leave it all behind with you" suggests a desire to break free from the past and move on to something different. It implies the struggle of wanting change but being held back by the attachment to the relationship. The lines "And leave it all behind, it's true" repeated at the end, serve to reinforce this internal struggle and the need to make a decision.
Overall, the song explores the complexities of love, decisions, and moving on from a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Stuck
Feeling trapped and unable to make a decision
On the fence with you
Undecided and unsure about a particular person or situation involving you and someone else in your life
This I'm always prone to do
Tendency to be indecisive in relationships, leading to feelings of uncertainty and doubt
Forge something new
Attempting to create a fresh start or a new beginning
And leave it all behind with you
Willingness to let go of the past and move forward, even if it means leaving someone else behind as well
Back at the front of the...
Returning to a familiar place or situation that you have previously experienced
I see all those boys again
Reminiscing about past relationships or encounters with other men
I shift through you
Trying to sort through conflicting emotions and feelings regarding someone
And leave it all behind, it's true
Persisting in the decision to move on, to the point where it becomes a personal truth
And leave it all behind, it's true
Reaffirming the decision to leave the past behind and move forward with conviction
Contributed by Nathaniel R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.