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.
Sun in Your Eyes
Grizzly Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And lean on
Your tired hands that crawl and grasp
The soft ground
By the look on your face
You set out on a path
Never to arrive
By the look on your face
And the sun is in your eyes
Stretched out, far and wide
The light that scorched the sand
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
And every stone and every step
I won't recall
Emptied out of every thought
Just soft ground
By the look on your face
The burden's on your back
And the sun in your eyes
Gone at last
Stretched out, far and wide
The light that scorched the sand
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
It overflows, it overflows, it always runs
It overflows, it overflows, it always runs
Silver and silent
Endless abundance overflows
Silver and silent rushing on
Endless abundance overflows
Always surround you, always glows
Oh
Look on your face,
Burden's on your back
Sun is in your eyes
Stretched out, far and wide
The light that scorched the sand
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
Grizzly Bear's song, "Sun in Your Eyes," is a melancholic piece outlining the harsh realities of life's journey. The opening verse, "You've fallen once, you'll fall again And lean on your tired hands that crawl and grasp the soft ground," speaks to the fact that we will face challenges and obstacles that will wear us down, but we must get back up and continue on. The lyrics "By the look on your face, you set out on a path never to arrive," suggest that although we set out with good intentions, the destination may not always be attainable. Further, the phrase "the burden's on your back," symbolizes the heaviness of life’s difficulties, and "the sun is in your eyes" depicts an obstacle in our path towards reaching our goals.
The second verse signals a shift in perspective, with lyrics "And every stone, and every step, I won't recall, emptied out of every thought, just soft ground." The soft ground reflects us laying bare, vulnerable and open to the world. Forgetting the stones in the path is a reminder to leave trauma behind and move forward with lessons but without baggage. The chorus once again states that the burden’s always present, with the sun forever in our eyes. The last verse reflects the finality of giving up with, "I'm never coming back," as well as the beauty and abundance of what's left behind, with "endless abundance overflows."
Line by Line Meaning
You've fallen once, you'll fall again
And lean on
Your tired hands that crawl and grasp
The soft ground
Life has its ups and downs, and when you stumble again in the future, you'll have to rely on your weakened state to lift yourself back up.
By the look on your face
You set out on a path
Never to arrive
By the look on your face
The burden's on your back
And the sun is in your eyes
You can't seem to overcome the challenges that come with the journey that you embarked on. The weight of your struggles bears down on you, making you feel defeated even as the glaring sun obstructs your view.
Stretched out, far and wide
The light that scorched the sand
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
The harsh conditions of the desert we just traveled far and wide across were so disagreeable that I never want to return to such conditions again.
And every stone and every step
I won't recall
Emptied out of every thought
Just soft ground
By the look on your face
The burden's on your back
And the sun in your eyes
The environment and experiences that we had to weather were so challenging that my mind is now empty of any thought or memory of them, They were just a blur of pain and anguish, as the weight of my problems continued to drag me down as the sun loomed large and obstructs my field of view.
Gone at last
Stretched out, far and wide
The light that scorched the sand
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
Finally we're free from our burdens and trials, having escaped the harsh desert whose scorching light felt almost eternal, we shall never return to its unforgiving embrace.
It overflows, it overflows, it always runs
It overflows, it overflows, it always runs
Silver and silent
Endless abundance overflows
Life is defined by its overflowing cycles of abundance and shortages, with the tides of good fortune washing over and providing us with more than we could ever need.
Silver and silent rushing on
Endless abundance overflows
Always surround you, always glows
Oh
Life's endless gift of abundance flows to and around you, always glowing despite being seemingly silent - forever replenishing and supporting you in your endeavors.
Look on your face,
Burden's on your back
Sun is in your eyes
The weariness and the problems that weigh you down are so obvious on your countenance. Your future outlook is obscured by the sun in your eyes.
Stretched out, far and wide
The light that scorched the sand
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
So bright, so long
I'm never coming back
The endless stretch of scorching sand is seared into your memory forever, and you'll never be able to forget or return there again.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher M. Taylor, Christopher Robert Bear, Daniel Raphael Rossen, Edward Droste
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sauce_
This gave me chills that I cannot explain.
I_can_ Boogie
Love it
brendon marwein
I was listening to this song while I was on Acid and gosh it took me to such a beautiful place in my mind and heart. The song spoke to me and told me that all that I wanted/needed are already here for me, I just need to be grateful, patient and open to receive it from the universe.
John Doe
@brendon marwein God bless brother, safe journeys
brendon marwein
@John Doe That will definitely be on my list of things to try out😋🙌 and thanks man I will surely do, wishing the same for you✨
John Doe
Try psilocybin next, only if you want to receive more... And yes always be grateful
El Steele
I love grizzly bear.
El Steele
@Evan Newman Respect. 🤝 Remember, ALL CAPS.
Evan Newman
I love mf doom
Da- diddy
5:55 hit me different