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.

What's Wrong
Grizzly Bear Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Talk to yourself
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Grizzly Bear's song What's Wrong suggest a sense of confusion and indecision. The first two lines, "Talk to yourself, Please make your mind up," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer seems to be struggling with multiple options or decisions, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unsure. The lyrics "Is there anything left at all, all, all," suggest a sense of emptiness or exhaustion from having to constantly make choices.

The chorus of the song continues with the phrase "Everything all at once," which implies that there is too much to handle or process all at once. The line "And I might leave you two times, So dark my eyes" could suggest that the singer is letting someone down or hurting them due to their inability to make a decision. Additionally, the phrase "So dark my eyes" could be interpreted as a result of exhaustion or emotional pain.

The second half of the song introduces the idea of being "cloistered from yourself," implying a sense of isolation or disconnection from one's own thoughts and feelings. The phrase "Best just lie down and close your eyes for once," could be an indication of the singer feeling overwhelmed and needing to take a break.

Overall, "What's Wrong" by Grizzly Bear presents a sense of mental exhaustion and confusion, with the singer struggling to make sense of all the options before them.

Line by Line Meaning

Talk to yourself
Reflect on your thoughts and feelings within before seeking help from others.

Please make your mind up
Make a decisive decision and commit to it.

Is there anything left
Question if there is anything worth holding on to in a situation or relationship.

At all, all, all
Emphasize the need for clarity and conviction in decision-making.

Everything all at once
The overwhelming feeling of being bombarded by a multitude of thoughts, emotions, and responsibilities.

And I might Leave you two times So dark my eyes
I might disappoint you, hurting myself and losing perspective in the process.

I never leave the light on
I never hold on to hope or positivity.

Weary when I do us wrong But we try
Even though we fall short and upset one another, we still make an effort to make things work.

Cloistered from yourself You never even try
When you don't engage in self-reflection, it's easier to become stuck or indolent, eventually obstructing any desire to improve.

Best just lie down And close your eyes for once Before your will just goes
To prevent burnout and exhaustion in confronting an endless onslaught of tasks, sometimes it's best to take a short break to clear your mind.

Surrounded by the throng A mounting wave of sound The clamor breaks me down The ground beneath me gone The sky might open up
Being overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life can lead to a sense of instability and despair, yet hope and opportunity can arise from these situations.

Ah, oh, oh Ah, oh, oh Ah, oh, oh Ah, oh, oh Ah, oh, oh Ah, oh, oh
An exclamation of frustration and exhaustion in response to dealing with the emotional and mental weight of the world.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher M. Taylor, Christopher Robert Bear, Daniel Raphael Rossen, Edward Droste

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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