In 2004, Elverum abandoned the "Microphones" name to begin recording as Mount Eerie, briefly returning in December 2007 when he began selling a new 7" single by the Microphones ("Don't Smoke" / "Get Off the Internet") on his website and at concerts.
In 2020, Elverum returned to the Microphones name once more to release the project's 14th album Microphones in 2020. Microphones members/collaborators include Karl Blau, Dennis Driscoll, Kyle Field aka Little Wings, Mirah, Khaela Maricich aka The Blow, Adrian Orange aka Thanksgiving, Adam Forkner and K Records' founder, Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and the Halo Benders.
Samurai Sword
The Microphones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your massive paws press down the snow
I've got bare feet
Touching bark right above you silently
I lower down my icy stare, you smell the air
I've got a samurai sword meant for you, polar bear
I've got a grizzly look in my eye
You want my blood all over your face
But I'm plummeting through branches towards you now
Feeling still (samurai phil)
The lyrics to The Microphones' "Samurai Sword" initially depict a bear foraging for prey in the snow while the singer quietly watches from the trees above, armed with a samurai sword. The two adversaries stand in tense silence, each sizing up the other before one plane ultimately emerges as the victor. This imagery can be interpreted in a variety of ways, however, as the bear represents both the natural world that we attempt to conquer and the human need to assert dominance over others.
The mention of a samurai sword adds another layer of meaning to the lyrics, as the samurai code of bushido is all about honor and respect. In the context of the song, the singer may be attempting to assert their dominance over the bear in a more respectful way, rather than just taking its life without thought. Alternatively, the samurai sword could simply be seen as a tool of violence, and the song is a commentary on the consequences of our actions and how we justify them to ourselves.
Overall, "Samurai Sword" is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to consider their place in the natural world and how they interact with those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a bear foraging for a kill
You are an animal searching for food
Your massive paws press down the snow
Your big feet make an imprint on the snow
I've got bare feet
I do not have any shoes on
Touching bark right above you silently
I am quietly touching the tree above you
I lower down my icy stare, you smell the air
I look down at you with a cold glare and you sniff the air
I've got a samurai sword meant for you, polar bear
I have a sword that is intended to hurt you, Mr. Polar Bear
I've got a grizzly look in my eye
I have an intense expression on my face
You aim to drag me back down underground to gorge.
You want to drag me down into a hole to eat me
You want my blood all over your face
You want to kill me and get my blood on your face
But I'm plummeting through branches towards you now
But I am quickly falling through the tree branches towards you at this moment
Feeling still (samurai phil)
I am calm and collected, like a samurai named Phil
Contributed by Jayden A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
captainwankbeard
You're a bear foraging for a kill
Your massive paws press down the snow
I've got bare feet
Touching bark right above you silently
I lower down my icy stare, you smell the air
I've got a samurai sword meant for you, polar bear
I've got a grizzly look in my eye
You aim to drag me back down underground to gorge
You want my blood all over your face
But I'm plummeting through branches towards you now
Feeling still (Samurai Phil)
Ornithopter7186
lyrics start at 1:15
You're a bear foraging for a kill
Your massive paws press down the snow
I've got bare feet
Touching bark right above you silently
I lower down my icy stare, you smell the air
I've got a samurai sword meant for you, polar bear
I've got a grizzly look in my eye
You aim to drag me back down underground to gorge
You want my blood all over your face
But I'm plummeting through branches towards you now
Feeling still, samurai Phil
Alexander Mendoza
Eres un oso buscando una presa
You're a bear foraging for a kill
Tus enormes patas presionan la nieve
Your massive paws press down the snow
Tengo los pies descalzos
I've got bare feet
Tocando la corteza justo encima de ti en silencio
Touching bark right above you silently
Miro hacia abajo
I look down
Yo respiro frio
I breathe out cold
Tu ... tengo una espada samurái destinada a ti
Your... I've got a samurai sword meant for you
Oso polar
Polar bear
Ooo-ooo-oo-ooo
Ooo-ooo-oo-ooo
¿Quieres llevarme de vuelta a la tierra para atraparme?
You wanna take me back down underground to gorge
Quieres mi sangre en tu cara
You want my blood on your face
Tengo una mirada grizzly en mis ojos
I've got a grizzly look in my eye
Tienes pelaje blanco
You've got white fur
waldorn prime
fun fact: playing the glow pt. 2 on shuffle at night gives you a 1/20 chance of dying immediately
AlinzPark
any monster who shuffles The Glow Pt. 2 deserves it.
Obv I'm kidding, but also how dare you.
Queen of the Gravity Urge
This is my 9AM weekend alarm. Has been for years.
N F
i feel inspired
u+202e
Queen of the Gravity Urge this is actually a good idea
Jordan Cheek
Im here from anthony fantano
Razz
are you trying to give yourself a heart attack every weekend??
captainwankbeard
You're a bear foraging for a kill
Your massive paws press down the snow
I've got bare feet
Touching bark right above you silently
I lower down my icy stare, you smell the air
I've got a samurai sword meant for you, polar bear
I've got a grizzly look in my eye
You aim to drag me back down underground to gorge
You want my blood all over your face
But I'm plummeting through branches towards you now
Feeling still (Samurai Phil)
tengo un chingo de feria
it's crazy how fucking hard this whole song goes probable one of the hardest songs of all time up there it really makes me shit my pants every time i hear those blasts (drums allegedly) and the little guitar trying to scream louder than the other guitars that sound like they're screaming to be released from whatever torture phil was putting them through while he mumbles about bears or something god damn this whole song rattles all of my bones i didn't even notice there were any lyrics but it still felt like leonardo di caprio here was still losing to a bear in my head anyways this song is raw as fuck stop reading loser go do the dishes or somethng
Freddy Wilson
Wow. This is a monster of a song.