The Bear Quartet is an indie rock group from Luleå in northern Sweden. They… Read Full Bio ↴The Bear Quartet is an indie rock group from Luleå in northern Sweden. They have been playing since 1989 and making records at a steady rate since 1992, always getting great reviews but never selling much.

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.

Walking Out
The Bear Quartet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

for several weeks
the same useless hum
when your away
I take care of things
I read those books
and let the air in
and late the phone rings
I let it ring

the message I heard
I will erase
'cause I know who spoke
after the beep

now I'm walking out
I'm walking out
now I'm walking like
I walk with you, with you

wide off the mark
what's the point of a heart?
when it has to beat
so far from where it
most wants to be
a life that I have not entered yet

now I'm walking out
I'm walking out

now I'm walking like
I walk with you, with you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Bear Quartet's song 'Walking Out' may seem abstract at first listen, but it offers a glimpse into the mind of someone struggling with a relationship. The first verse sets up the scene - the singer has been left alone for weeks with nothing but a "useless hum" to fill the void. They have been reading books and letting the air in, taking care of things, while the phone rings in the background. However, when they listen to the message left on the answering machine, the singer decides to erase it because they know who spoke - likely an ex-lover trying to make amends.

The second verse is more introspective, with the singer questioning the purpose of a heart that beats so far from where it wants to be. They seem to be resigned to a life they haven't entered yet, a life without the person they most want to be with. However, the chorus is where the song takes on a different tone. The singer declares that they are walking out, and that they are now walking like they walk with the person they want to be with. It suggests a sense of empowerment and self-worth, as if the singer has finally decided to take control of their life instead of waiting for someone else to make a decision about it.

Overall, 'Walking Out' is a powerful song about making a difficult decision to move on from a past relationship, and taking the necessary steps to do so. The juxtaposition of the sad and introspective lyrics with the empowering chorus creates an interesting tension, giving the song a nuanced emotional depth.

Line by Line Meaning

for several weeks
Over the course of multiple weeks

the same useless hum
Dull and repetitive noise

when your away
When you are not present

I take care of things
Handle responsibilities

I read those books
Engage in literature

and let the air in
Allow ventilation

and late the phone rings
Phone call received in the evening

I let it ring
Do not answer the phone

the message I heard
Voicemail

I will erase
Delete the message

'cause I know who spoke
Recognize the caller