The Bear Quartet are Mattias Alkberg on vocals and guitar, Jari Haapalainen on guitar, Peter Nuottaniemi on bass guitar, Jejo Perkovic on drums and Carl Olsson on keyboards. Peter and Mattias write the lyrics, Mattias, Jari and Carl write the music.
The Bear Quartet have spawned many side projects, they can almost be seen as the "hub" of Swedish pop music. Mattias sings and plays in Mattias Alkberg BD, whose debut album Tunaskolan released in 2004 was very well received by the critics and audience. Punk in Swedish. Jari produces lots of other artists, such as Nicolai Dunger, Ed Harcourt, Kristofer Åström, The Concretes and Frida Hyvönen, and plays with Maria from The Concretes in Heikki. Carl has Paddington DC, some kind of noise electro pop.
The name "Bear Quartet" is taken from Klas Östergrens book Gentlemen.
The album titles follow an interesting naming scheme: every title is two words, of which the first ends with a "y".
All albums are released on Skellefteå-based independent label A West Side Fabrication.
Mountain
The Bear Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and you call me a friend
when you were laughing at a parking lot
with blood in your hair
come on in
this head is open
jump right in
just to be number one into the sea
was all you cared about basically
beyond the treehouse and the track
looking for signs of you in the water
come on in
this beach is haunted
try to swim
the stream is strong
now come on in
this beach is haunted
try to swim
the stream is strong now
The lyrics to The Bear Quartet's song "Mountain" convey a sense of vulnerability and the desire for connection, despite feeling like an outsider. The opening lines - "I am the lowest creep and you call me a friend" - suggest a feeling of being underestimated or undervalued. Despite this, the singer still seeks approval and friendship from the person they are addressing. The mention of blood in the hair also hint at a previous traumatic event that has potentially strengthened this desire for connection.
As the song progresses, the singer invites the listener to "come on in" to their mind and their dreams. The repetition of this phrase conveys a sense of desperation, as if the singer is pleading for someone to understand them. The line "just to be number one into the sea was all you cared about basically" suggests a contrast between the singer's desire for connection and another person's focus on success or achievement.
The second half of the song introduces the imagery of water, with references to a beach and a stream. The repetition of "come on in" takes on a new meaning, as the singer now seems to be comparing the water to their own mind or emotions. The lines "this beach is haunted" and "try to swim, the stream is strong" convey a sense of danger or challenge, as if the singer is warning the listener that connecting with them might not be easy.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mountain" convey a sense of longing for connection and validation, despite feeling like an outsider or underdog. The repetition of phrases like "come on in" and "this head is open" suggest an intense desire for understanding and empathy from the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the lowest creep
The singer feels like they are at the bottom of society.
and you call me a friend
Despite the singer's low social status, they have a friend who accepts them.
when you were laughing at a parking lot
The friend and the singer were enjoying a moment together in a mundane location.
with blood in your hair
The friend may have gotten into a physical altercation prior to the parking lot moment.
come on in
The artist is inviting someone into their thoughts.
this head is open
The singer is allowing the person to explore their mind.
jump right in
The person is encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the singer's thoughts.
this dream is vacant
The artist's mind is currently not preoccupied with anything significant.
just to be number one into the sea
The friend is motivated solely by their desire to be the best, even if it means taking risks.
was all you cared about basically
This drive to be the best is the most important thing to the friend.
beyond the treehouse and the track
The singer and friend have a shared history, possibly from childhood playing in a treehouse or on a track (similar to a playground).
looking for signs of you in the water
The artist is searching for the friend's presence in the world where they took risks to be the best.
this beach is haunted
The singer's mind is now haunted by memories of the friend.
try to swim
The singer and friend are metaphorically swimming in the thoughts and memories of their past.
the stream is strong
The memories are difficult to overcome and the friend's influence is still strong.
now come on in
The artist is still inviting the person into their mind.
Contributed by Aubrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.