Honey Bear
The Residents Lyrics


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Tell me Why I Am so Scared

Tell me, tell me, tell me that you love me
Tell me, tell me, I'm your honey bear
Tell me, tell me, I can be your cubby
Tell me I am your chocolate eclair
Tell me that you are somewhere above me
Tell me, tell me, and I won't be scared

Once I was a linebacker in college
Once they put my picture on the wall
Once I ate much more than I could swallow
Once I had so very far to fall
Once I had a father I could follow
Once he hardly hated me at all

Now I am an unemployed policeman
Now my pickup needs to be repaired
Now I wait for you to gag and grease me
Now I hope you'll hold me by the hair




Now I live in shadows of my dreams and
Hope to be your humble honey bear

Overall Meaning

The Residents’s song “Honey Bear” has a creepy and unsettling vibe from the beginning with lyrics that ask to be loved and called a honey bear, whilst admitting to a deep fear. The opening line, “Tell me, tell me, tell me that you love me” repeated three times, is a plea to feel loved and assured but also comes across like a desperate begging. The song then goes on to describe the singer’s past life as a successful college linebacker with his picture on the wall but now paints a picture of a down-on-his-luck and unemployed policeman who is hoping to be seen as a “humble honey bear” by someone. The line “Now I hope you'll hold me by the hair” is especially creepy and disturbing.


The song presents a deeply troubled individual who possibly has deep-seated issues of fear and self-esteem. The line “tell me that you are somewhere above me, and I won't be scared” indicates he is unable to deal with this fear alone and is searching for someone to believe in him. It's an extremely powerful and disturbing song that delves into the psyche of unstable individuals who are desperate for love and approval.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me, tell me, tell me that you love me
I need constant reassurance that you still love me


Tell me, tell me, I'm your honey bear
Tell me I hold a special place in your heart


Tell me, tell me, I can be your cubby
I want to be your safe place to hide and feel protected


Tell me I am your chocolate eclair
I want to feel desired and indulged


Tell me that you are somewhere above me
I need to know that you are in control of everything


Tell me, tell me, and I won't be scared
I am scared of losing you or not being enough for you


Once I was a linebacker in college
I used to be strong and confident


Once they put my picture on the wall
I used to be admired and respected


Once I ate much more than I could swallow
I used to have big dreams and ambitions


Once I had so very far to fall
I used to have high expectations for myself


Once I had a father I could follow
I used to have someone to look up to and guide me


Once he hardly hated me at all
My father used to love and approve of me


Now I am an unemployed policeman
I feel like a failure because I lost my job


Now my pickup needs to be repaired
Things are falling apart and I can't fix them all


Now I wait for you to gag and grease me
I want to be submissive to you and feel your control


Now I hope you'll hold me by the hair
I want you to be dominant and physical with me


Now I live in shadows of my dreams
I am disappointed in where I am in life compared to where I thought I would be


Hope to be your humble honey bear
I want to be loyal and obedient to you




Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Mary Roam

I can't be the only one who thinks this song is amazing

TheHeavyMetalBrony

@Geemonster 17 now, but they´re morons to be honest.

Geemonster

16 people would disagree with you, but fuck them, i think it's a gem

TheHeavyMetalBrony

You´re not, I love it too.

Shifter Gynoid

This is one of my favourite Residents songs.

Gin Kanges

Damn Randy that lyric smithing

3 More Replies...

Oecobius33

I love this whole album, but this song especially transports me every single time.
Masterful.

gerd reuss

i love it

super

Amazing song...... just totally nails that feeling of romantic need and how important it is to soften life. It even addresses some people's wilder sexual impulses as part of the whole package.. just wild how the Residents can tap into this sort of stuff, this album is so good

gerd reuss

i love it

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