The band's original lineup, consisting of Spencer Moody, Dann Gallucci, Derek Fudesco, Coady Willis and Nate Manny, formed in Seattle, Washington in 1996. Gabe Kerbrat was their permanent roadie, and considered a member. Within a year, the band had released two singles "Three Natural Sixes" (Hopscotch Records #5) and "Dance Hall Music" (Empty Records MTR-354) and signed with the "Die Young Stay Pretty" label, a subsidiary of Sub Pop. The self-titled debut album was released in 1997.
In 1998, the band released "Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts", its second full-length album. This release saw a greatly increased use of electric organ, and in the same year they recruited Leslie Hardy as their full-time keyboard player. Hardy had previously played bass guitar for Hole on the 1993 single "Beautiful Son." The Murder City Devils then embarked on a year-long tour of North America to support the record.
After a short break, the band released "In Name and Blood" in 2000, with photos in the liner notes notoriously depicting every member as a murder victim. They also appeared as both individual actors as well as a band in David Larson's independent film "The Edge of Quarrel". The band released the "Thelema" EP in 2001 before breaking up later that year due to circumstances surrounding Hardy's departure from the band.
The band's 'final' concert on Halloween was recorded and released by Sub Pop in 2003 as "R.I.P." Notably, R.I.P. includes two previously unrecorded songs. It was also released on DVD in 2005.
In 2006, the band announced they were reuniting for a July show in Seattle with all original members and performed on July 29th at the Capitol Hill Block Party, closing the two day music festival on Saturday night. The day following the Block Party performance, the band played a secret unannounced show with The Blood Brothers at The Showbox in downtown Seattle, the same venue where "R.I.P." was recorded.
Another reunion show was played at the 2007 Fun Fun Fun Fest, November 3-4 in Austin and, as of 2014, they have reformed for occasional gigs and short tours ever since. In 2011/2012, The Murder City Devils recorded and released a new single ('Every Day I Rise' b/w 'Ball Busters') and have a new album due out in August 2014.
Bear Away
The Murder City Devils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Vesta is landing
Without a captain
Without a crew
Down in the hole
Tied to the wheel
This ship is filled with rats
You better find your mother
You better look for cover
We make a choice
We make it every day
To get up in the morning
And to bear away
And to bear away
(Bear away)
You better find some cover
You better outlive your mother
(Bear away)
You better find some
Cover
This ship of death
This ship has a new captain
This ship is landing
We don't need a dock though
We need a sacrifice
We need a sacrifice
You better hide your babies
Until morning
(Bear away)
We make a choice
We make it every day
(Bear away)
To get up in the morning
To bear away
(Bear away)
Bear away, bear away!
(Bear away)
Bear away, bear away!
(Bear away)
Bear away, bear away!
Bear away!
You better outlive your mother
You better outlive your mother
YOU BETTER OUTLIVE YOUR MOTHER!
Bear away!
Turn up the lamppost
Bear away!
Stay out of the shadows
Bear away!
This is a plague like no other
Bear away!
We need a martyr
Bear away!
We need a victim
Bear away!
We need a sacrifice
Bear away!
Pray before sundown
Bear away!
Send your children to grandmas
Bear away!
Nail a cross to the door
(Bear away)
Bear away, bear away!
(Bear away)
Bear away, bear away!
(Bear away)
Bear away, bear away!
Bear away!
The Murder City Devils' song "Bear Away" is a haunting and ominous track that speaks to the human desire to survive at any cost. The song opens with the repetition of the phrase "The Vesta is landing," which sets the stage for the dark and foreboding lyrics that follow. The Vesta is a reference to the Roman goddess of the hearth, home, and family. The use of this symbol is ironic, as the ship is portrayed as being filled with death and darkness.
The lyrics suggest that the ship is without a captain or a crew, and that it is tied to the wheel down in the hole. The ship is called a "ship of death" and is filled with rats. The singer warns that people need to find cover and hide their babies until morning. They need to outlive their mother. The song seems to be implying that the ship and its occupants are a vector for some type of deadly plague.
Ultimately, the song is about the choices people make every day to survive. The singer advises people to bear away and turn up the lamppost, stay out of the shadows, and nail a cross to the door. They need to find cover and pray before sundown. The song creates a sense of desperation and impending doom that is both terrifying and captivating.
Line by Line Meaning
The Vesta is landing
The spacecraft named Vesta is arriving at its destination
The Vesta is landing
Reiterating that the spacecraft named Vesta is landing
Without a captain
The spacecraft doesn’t have a captain to control it
Without a crew
The spacecraft doesn’t have any people on board
Down in the hole
The spacecraft is in a bad position or state
Tied to the wheel
The spacecraft is being driven and controlled by something, possibly external forces
This ship of death
The spacecraft is being referred to as a ship of death, possibly implying that it’s dangerous or deadly
This ship is filled with rats
The spacecraft is full of rats or lesser beings
You better find your mother
An advice, telling someone to find their mother or protect their loved ones from a possible danger
You better look for cover
Another advice, suggesting someone to prepare for or protect themselves from an imminent danger
We make a choice
Every day, we decide how to live our lives and what to do next
We make it every day
Emphasis on the fact that we make this decision on a daily basis, possibly reminding someone that their time is running out
To get up in the morning
To start a new day and continue living
And to bear away
To carry on and endure no matter the difficulties
You better find some cover
Another reminder to prepare for danger or difficulties
You better outlive your mother
An encouragement to outlast difficult times and to survive no matter what happens
This ship has a new captain
The spacecraft has a new leader to control it
This ship is landing
Reiterating that the spacecraft is landing
We don't need a dock though
The spacecraft doesn’t need a dedicated docking station or landing platform to reach its destination
We need a sacrifice
The spacecraft requires something or someone to be sacrificed in order to achieve its goals
You better hide your babies
An advice to protect and keep loved ones safe from a possible danger
Until morning
Until the danger passes or the difficult times are over
Turn up the lamppost
An action to increase visibility or to light the way
Stay out of the shadows
An advice to avoid dark or dangerous places
This is a plague like no other
A warning that the coming danger or difficulty is unlike anything experienced before
We need a martyr
The spacecraft requires a martyr or a selfless hero who sacrifices themselves for the greater good
We need a victim
The spacecraft requires a victim or someone who will be punished for the greater good
Pray before sundown
A suggestion to pray before nightfall or before a potentially dangerous time
Send your children to grandmas
An advice to send loved ones to a safe or protective place
Nail a cross to the door
A symbolic action to ward off evil or danger
Bear away!
A repetitive encouragement to toughen up and endure no matter the difficulty
Bear away, bear away!
Reiterating the repetitive encouragement to toughen up and endure no matter the difficulty
Bear away!
Continuing the repetitive encouragement to toughen up and endure no matter the difficulty
You better outlive your mother
Reiterating the encouragement to survive no matter what happens
Contributed by Aiden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.