In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
He climbed into the belly of the great white bear
It's very sticky and it smells a little fishy, but no one will look for him there
He took a moment to pick his thoughts and make them clear
Oh, what a day it's been
Oh, what a terrible state he's in
Oh, what a day it's been
Oh, what a terrible state he's in
Her eyes are wired, there's a hat over her thick black hair
They're racing through the snow, their sweaty hands keep slipping
But they're almost there
Her father's shotgun ringing out now through the cold night air
Oh, what a fix they're in
Oh, what a terrible sin
Oh, what a fix they're in
Oh, what a terrible sinister game
The hunter did play
To give them the hope that they could get away
When biding his time, he did wait down the line
To bring a disaster on their youthful dreams of escape
Oh, what a day it's been
Oh, what a day it's been
Run
There's a bullet in your back
Run, run, there's a bullet in your back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back, but I wouldn't take it back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back, but I wouldn't take it back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back, but I wouldn't take it back, I wouldn't take it back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back and I want to take it back, I want to
Want to, I want to
Want you, I want you
Want you, I want you
Want you
Want you
Want you back
It's very sticky and it smells a little fishy, but no one will look for him there
He took a moment to pick his thoughts and make them clear
Oh, what a day it's been
Oh, what a terrible state he's in
Oh, what a day it's been
Oh, what a terrible state he's in
Her eyes are wired, there's a hat over her thick black hair
They're racing through the snow, their sweaty hands keep slipping
But they're almost there
Her father's shotgun ringing out now through the cold night air
Oh, what a fix they're in
Oh, what a terrible sin
Oh, what a fix they're in
Oh, what a terrible sinister game
The hunter did play
To give them the hope that they could get away
When biding his time, he did wait down the line
To bring a disaster on their youthful dreams of escape
Oh, what a day it's been
Oh, what a day it's been
Run
There's a bullet in your back
Run, run, there's a bullet in your back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back, but I wouldn't take it back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back, but I wouldn't take it back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back, but I wouldn't take it back, I wouldn't take it back
Run, run, run, there's a bullet in your back and I want to take it back, I want to
Want to, I want to
Want you, I want you
Want you, I want you
Want you
Want you
Want you back
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
Great White Bear [Live with Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg] Lyrics as written by Darryl Torr Cherilyn Neilson Macneil
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well, I love this song, not only because it is a South African band and because it is so touching but because you really have to think about what it means, but at the same time there is no lack of emotion portrayed... Basically, I think this song talks about the very real and twisted "game of love" that two people have to face, with the world critisising and commenting. I think this song is about fighting for the love you feel, regardless of the odds and the circumstance. I also, especially when watching the music video (which is brilliant, by the way) get the message of how a bond can form between different kinds of people, and that connection can be so strong between those people that it is hard for everyone else to understand, but yet it is so comforting that nothing could really break it and the more the world tries, the more the two lovers will try to fight that critisism thus, only becoming stronger in the end even if the journey is difficult.
The lines that stand out for me, which give the song meaning are: "Oh, what a terrible sinister game The hunter did play To give them the hope That they could get away" and "He did wait down the line To bring a disaster On their youthful dreams of escape"
Lovely song.