Borrowing their name from the American author who won the Pulitzer Prize for her debut novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" before disappearing from the public eye, the band likewise planned to issue just one record before calling it quits, but after releasing the plaintive single "Dry Land" on Matinée in mid-1999, the duo opted to continue forward. "Bug" appeared the following May, and in early 2001 Harper Lee issued their first full-length effort, Go Back to Bed; an EP, Train Not Stopping, appeared a few months later, with a second full-length, Everything's Going to Be OK, released in mid-2002.
2004 saw the release of their second full length album, All Things Can Be Mended to critical acclaim, and even though the band remain a well kept secret favourite to many fans of the music that came out of Sarah Records the band is well known for having performed live less than ten times. Their latest public appearance was at the Danish indie festival, PopRevo in September 2006.
I Can Bear This No Longer
Harper Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
honestly i don't mean it
in a hurtful way
i'm thankful for all these years
not hateful, no not bitter
in sweetness i mean this
can bear this no longer, no longer
time dragged us down
so hard we will drown
sorry i have to say
honestly i didn't mean it
in a regretful way
we hide these truths sometimes
a bad patch we pull through
will we pull through?
can bear this no longer, no longer
time dragged us down
pulling us under, pulling us under
so hard we will drown
i just want things back to
when they weren't so complicated
i want us to pull through
you know what i say is senseless
i just want things back to
when they weren't so complicated
i just want you
The lyrics to Harper Lee's song I Can Bear This No Longer appear to be about a relationship that has reached its breaking point. The singer is expressing regret and sorrow, stating that they didn't mean to hurt their partner, but that they can no longer continue in the relationship. The phrase "can bear this no longer" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the weight and burden of the situation.
The song speaks to the difficulty of facing the truth in a relationship and the fear of ending things. The repetition of the phrase "pulling us under" creates a sense of drowning or being overwhelmed by the weight of the situation. The singer expresses their desire to go back to a time when things were simpler and easier, but acknowledges that this may not be possible.
Overall, the song is a poignant expression of pain and regret in a failing relationship, with a recognition that sometimes endings are necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
sorry i have to say
I need to express something, even though it may be difficult
honestly i don't mean it
I don't intend to be malicious or hurtful
in a hurtful way
My words or actions were not meant to cause pain
i'm thankful for all these years
While there may be difficulties, I appreciate the time we've had together
not hateful, no not bitter
I don't hold animosity towards you, nor do I feel resentful
in sweetness i mean this
I say this with kindness and sincerity
can bear this no longer, no longer
I can no longer continue to endure this situation
time dragged us down
The passage of time has not been kind to us
pulling us under, pulling us under
Our struggles seem to be overwhelming us
so hard we will drown
We are struggling so much that it feels like we may not make it through
in a regretful way
I feel remorseful about something I've done or said
we hide these truths sometimes
There are things we don't want to confront or admit
a bad patch we pull through
We've been through rough times before and we can do it again
will we pull through?
Is our relationship strong enough to make it through this challenge?
i just want things back to when they weren't so complicated
I long for a simpler time, when things were easier between us
i want us to pull through
I hope and desire for our relationship to come out stronger in the end
you know what i say is senseless
I acknowledge that what I'm saying may not make sense or be rational
i just want you
Ultimately, what I really want is to be with you, even through the difficulties
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.