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.
What
Grizzly Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please make your mind up
Is there anything left
At all, all, all
Everything all at once
And I might
Leave you two times
So dark my eyes
I never leave the light on
Please make your mind up
Weary when I do us wrong
But we try
Everything all at once
And I might
Leave you two times
So dark my eyes
Cloistered from yourself
You never even try
Best just lie down
And close your eyes for once
Before your will just goes
Surrounded by the throng
A mounting wave of sound
The clamor breaks me down
The ground beneath me gone
The sky might open up
Ah, oh, oh
Ah, oh, oh
Ah, oh, oh
Ah, oh, oh
Ah, oh, oh
Ah, oh, oh
The lyrics of Grizzly Bear's song "What" suggest a narrator who is struggling with making decisions and coming to terms with the consequences of their actions. The repetition of "Please make your mind up" throughout the song implies the singer is torn between conflicting choices, leaving them feeling uncertain and indecisive. The line "Is there anything left at all" could signify the singer questioning whether their choice will have any positive outcome or if all options bring negative consequences. The line "Everything all at once" adds to the idea of an overwhelming number of choices or tasks being presented to the singer.
Another recurring theme in the song is the idea of leaving or being left. The line "And I might leave you two times" suggests the singer has the potential to abandon someone twice, doubling the hurt caused. The lyric "I never leave the light on" could imply the singer doesn't want to leave any hint of their presence, reinforcing the idea of them being afraid of the consequences of their actions.
The line "Cloistered from yourself, you never even try" could be interpreted as the singer being isolated and avoiding introspection, resulting in them not understanding their own thoughts or feelings. "Best just lie down and close your eyes for once before your will just goes" could be interpreted as the singer asking for a break before making any rash decisions that could hurt themselves or others.
Overall, the lyrics of "What" by Grizzly Bear seem to explore the struggle of decision-making, the fear of consequences, and the consequences of abandoning others.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk to yourself
Reflect on your thoughts and feelings
Please make your mind up
Make a decision and stick with it
Is there anything left
Are there any options or opportunities remaining?
At all, all, all
Any possibility whatsoever
Everything all at once
Feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of things
And I might
There's a chance, but not a guarantee
Leave you two times
Disappoint or hurt you on multiple occasions
So dark my eyes
Feeling emotionally or mentally exhausted
I never leave the light on
Not willing to hold onto false hopes or unrealistic expectations
Weary when I do us wrong
Feeling guilty when making mistakes in the relationship
But we try
Even when it's difficult, we make an effort to make things work
Cloistered from yourself
Feeling disconnected from your own identity or values
You never even try
Not making an effort to understand or improve oneself
Best just lie down
It's better to rest or take a break from the constant pressures of life
And close your eyes for once
Take a moment to relax and let go of your worries
Before your will just goes
Before you lose your motivation or drive
Surrounded by the throng
Feeling overwhelmed by a large crowd or group of people
A mounting wave of sound
Experiencing a gradual increase in noise or chaos
The clamor breaks me down
Feeling exhausted or defeated by the noise
The ground beneath me gone
Feeling ungrounded or unstable in your surroundings
The sky might open up
There's a possibility of something unexpected happening
Ah, oh, oh
Vocalization to express emotions such as pain or frustration
Ah, oh, oh
Vocalization to express emotions such as pain or frustration
Ah, oh, oh
Vocalization to express emotions such as pain or frustration
Ah, oh, oh
Vocalization to express emotions such as pain or frustration
Ah, oh, oh
Vocalization to express emotions such as pain or frustration
Ah, oh, oh
Vocalization to express emotions such as pain or frustration
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
@lac0nchadelalora
I'm gonna take a stab at this
Sure you will be alright
Make a decision with a kiss
Baby I have false spite
And when I trek alone back home
I make sure that I trek in the snow
Would it fall?
Tissue and bones, it was a trick
This isn't a gunfight
Checking it off my list
Unable to rewrite
Five years cast once and far alone
Hope I'm ready, able to make my own
Goodbye
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
@krol6282
1 year ago
I'm gonna take a stab at this
Sure you will be alright
Make a decision with a kiss
Maybe I have frostbite
And when I shuffled on back home
I make sure that I trek in the snow
Were gone
Tissue and bones, it was a tryst
This isn't a gunfight
Checking it off my list
Unable to rewrite
Five years countless months and a loan (alone?)
Hope I'm ready, able to make my own
Good home
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
They go, we go, I want you to know what I did, I did
Alternate lyrics I found that I think fit better? Conflicting sources.
@kickinthehead
I can listen to this song only once in 2-3 years because I still cry like a child during listening for no reason.
@gabet5247
There is something really whimsical about the vocal melody and ambient soundscapes. It reminds me of the way I used to see the world. A big mystery full of wonder and possibility. As we age the magic seems to dissapear altogether but songs like this are a beautiful yet painful reminder of a perspective of blissful innocence.
@stevenlesperance445
It's called cadence....force yourself to listen to it every day. You'll get past it.....
@drgnflyylaureate
@@stevenlesperance445that's the thing. I don't want to get past it. I am it.
@00Calebrio
It’s the nostalgia for me. And I cried to it for whatever reason back in the day.
@edwinmartinez4975
All grizzly bear songs sound like they all came from profound things.
There songs put me in the most introverted mood, not depressed but wondrous and puts things in perspective.
@victoriaribeiro4648
yes
@jenniferlima9235
Most of their songs are about Ed Droste's bad relationships... This particular song is about him being unfaithful. I saw an interview with him in which he talked about this song. He said, "This song is basically me being an ass** and cheating, trying to justify it and covering it up."
@jarrodhall3686
@Jennifer Lima Lol profound.
@jenniferlima9235
@Jarrod Hall, it honestly is.