There are at least two bands called The Bears.

The most prominent b… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands called The Bears.

The most prominent band called The Bears formed in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and continue to create new music today. Their sound may be categorized as Power-Pop or Prog Pop, but draws from a diverse pallet of influences, and features the distinctive avant-garde guitar playing of Adrian Belew, the band's most prominent member.

In addition to guitarist, vocalist and producer Belew, The Bears consists of guitarist/vocalist Rob Fetters, drummer/vocalist Chris Arduser, and bassist Bob Nyswonger (without Belew, the three are known as the PsychoDots).

In addition, there is a twee band called Bears (without the "the") from Cleveland, Ohio.

Another band called The Bears were formed in Watford, UK, by former Wire guitarist George Gill and future Julian Cope manager Cally. They released three singles in 1979, including the excellent Insane/Decisions which appeared on the Belfast label Good Vibrations.

Success
The Bears Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If a man is centered upon himself the smallest risk is too great for him
Success and failure can destroy him but if he's centered on true love
No risk is too great - success is guaranteed already
The union of creator and creature beside which all else is meaningless
The lurid melodrama played itself out in a luxury motel room by the sea
Said my wife as I sunk my teeth in her brown thigh,
Â??you were an egg just like me.â??

Overall Meaning

The Bears' song Success is a poetic contemplation on the nature of success and failure. The first two lines of the song contrast two different approaches to risk-taking. The man who is solely centered upon himself is too afraid to take any risks because he knows that success or failure could completely destroy him. However, if one is centered on true love, no risk is too great because success is already guaranteed. The union of creator and creature mentioned in the third line refers to the concept of God and man. The idea is that if we are internally focused on our relationship with God, success is not something we have to worry about because it is already guaranteed.

The final lines of the song describe a scene of lust and despair. The singer apparently has an affair with his wife in a motel room by the sea, and he is reminded of their shared origins by his wife's comment about them both starting as eggs. The implication is perhaps that the ephemeral nature of their tryst is a reminder of the larger human story of creation and mortality. The overall effect of the song is a meditation on the human condition and the fundamental questions of what success means and how to achieve it.

Line by Line Meaning

If a man is centered upon himself the smallest risk is too great for him
When a person is selfish and only thinks about themselves, they become afraid to take any risks, even small ones.

Success and failure can destroy him but if he's centered on true love
A person who only values success and fears failure will be devastated by both, but someone who focuses on love will be able to handle both outcomes.

No risk is too great - success is guaranteed already
When someone has true love, they are willing to take any risk to achieve their goals, knowing that success is already within their reach.

The union of creator and creature beside which all else is meaningless
When two beings come together, their love is the most important thing, and nothing else matters in comparison.

The lurid melodrama played itself out in a luxury motel room by the sea
A cheap and sensational story took place in an expensive and luxurious setting.

Said my wife as I sunk my teeth in her brown thigh, 'you were an egg just like me.'
In a moment of intimacy, the singer's wife reminds them both that they came from the same beginning and are equal in their humanity.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GUILLAUME BRIERE, BENJAMIN LEBEAU

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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