Since the album is a story, this song should be looked at in the context of the rest of the album. This is something I will take into account somewhat, but there is likely more that could be learned from looking closely at other songs.
Bear and Fox are wandering together, and, as noted in "Fox's Dream of a Log Flume", they have already had a discussion where (I think) Bear seems to recount a tale of unrequited love and Fox depicts his dream of Bear's suicide ("...and that you jumped from the top of the log flume.")
"Bear's Vision..." brings us back to Fox and Bear, now wandering and apparently growing weak from hunger. The fox feels that it is a burden to Bear ("you've worn me like an albatross, I've only slowed you down") this could be referring to their physical journey, but also relationally
"You could've long traded in your braided crown (virginity?) by now you could've found that Anabaptist girl you always used to go on about".
Apparently, Bear has talked to Fox about a girl he was interested in throughout their time in the circus. It's likely that their starving is somehow thematically related to celibacy and the unfulfillment of each of their relational/sexual desires towards others and each other (also: "we burned like fevers under carriage masks").
The pair approach the Asbury Cliffs (referenced in Fox's dream). Here, Bear says that his brother has passed away and has been laid at the bottom. Mention is made of St. Agnes (saint of virginity/chastity, among other things) and how she was present at the hospital where his brother died. The saint averted her eyes at Bear's brother's death (possibly due to some sort of sexual impurity, or to assume purity and and avoid disappointment?). Bear tells Fox his brother is located at the bottom of the cliff, and that Fox should climb down where "there'll be enough to fill your cup for days". It may be that Bear is telling Fox to eat the remains of his brother to avoid starvation (though Bear says of himself "I'll stay up here and rest"). "There'll be enough to fill your cup for days" might be a reference to the traditional story of the death of St. Agnes, where believers soaked up her spilt blood with rags (insinuating that Bear's brother was indeed a virgin at his death).
Presumably, Bear is trying to get some privacy from Fox so that he can throw himself from the top of the cliff to join his brother and fulfill Fox's earlier dream. In his aside, Bear descibes his fall and his return to his beginnings (which ties in with the next song on the album):
"We'll fly in straight lines as from carronades we'll crash like tidal waves, decimate the islands as our hollowed lumber falls like water, ends where I start in that tattered rag shop back in Asbury Park"
While it looks like Bear is trying to preserve Fox's life, Bear does say "We'll" when describing his death. Not sure what to think about that. The song ends with a stanza I am somewhat clueless on. It seems that Bear may be describing how quickly his strength is leaving him and telling Fox that his survival will make Bear's death and sacrifice (more food for Fox?) worthwhile. If my theory of Bear offering his brother and himself as sustenance is correct (it may not be), this song is slightly dark, but also beautiful.
I would add one thing. I think maybe Bear is lying about having a brother. Rather, he planning to jump from the rocks (as in fox's dream) and save fox from dying of starvation by eating Bear himself (Bear says his brother looks just like him). In Fox's dream people gather after Bear's death looking for answer, and they don't understand his death. Fox seems to understand what Bear did, and charges at the waves maybe in anger (the "cup" in hand might be Bear's blood?), but is tossed back to Bear's remains on the rocks.
I would add one thing. I think maybe Bear is lying about having a brother. Rather, he planning to jump from the rocks (as in fox's dream) and save fox from dying of starvation by eating Bear himself (Bear says his brother looks just like him). In Fox's dream people gather after Bear's death looking for answer, and they don't understand his death. Fox seems to understand what Bear did, and charges at the waves maybe in anger (the "cup" in hand might be Bear's blood?), but is tossed back to Bear's remains on the rocks.
St. Agnes...
St. Agnes looked up from Bear's death because Bear committed suicide, which is a mortal sin that cannot be repented off (even though his intentions were pure). The ending chorus is, to me, Bear slowly dying and telling himself that as long as fox is saved from starvation, the world will be better ("we'll all improve") and thus his sacrifice is worth it. His death will be a good death, to paraphrase Henri Nouwen.
I think this is a very good interpretation of the song and the relationship between Fox & Bear. I just wanted to add that I believe the last stanza is Bear's thoughts after he has jumped from the cliff and is approaching the ground (Sixty feet and my feet won't move / Forty feet and my legs won't move / Ten feet more and nothing moves) and also strengthens the sacrificial nature of his suicide toward Fox (if you improve we'll all improve).
I think this is a very good interpretation of the song and the relationship between Fox & Bear. I just wanted to add that I believe the last stanza is Bear's thoughts after he has jumped from the cliff and is approaching the ground (Sixty feet and my feet won't move / Forty feet and my legs won't move / Ten feet more and nothing moves) and also strengthens the sacrificial nature of his suicide toward Fox (if you improve we'll all improve).
i think that bear's brother did not exist, at least not in the situation the bear is talking about him, but instead he is saying he has a brother at the bottom of the cliff so the fox will not have the moral dilemma of eating his friend.
i think that bear's brother did not exist, at least not in the situation the bear is talking about him, but instead he is saying he has a brother at the bottom of the cliff so the fox will not have the moral dilemma of eating his friend.
Here's what I am piecing together:
Since the album is a story, this song should be looked at in the context of the rest of the album. This is something I will take into account somewhat, but there is likely more that could be learned from looking closely at other songs.
Bear and Fox are wandering together, and, as noted in "Fox's Dream of a Log Flume", they have already had a discussion where (I think) Bear seems to recount a tale of unrequited love and Fox depicts his dream of Bear's suicide ("...and that you jumped from the top of the log flume.")
"Bear's Vision..." brings us back to Fox and Bear, now wandering and apparently growing weak from hunger. The fox feels that it is a burden to Bear ("you've worn me like an albatross, I've only slowed you down") this could be referring to their physical journey, but also relationally
"You could've long traded in your braided crown (virginity?) by now you could've found that Anabaptist girl you always used to go on about".
Apparently, Bear has talked to Fox about a girl he was interested in throughout their time in the circus. It's likely that their starving is somehow thematically related to celibacy and the unfulfillment of each of their relational/sexual desires towards others and each other (also: "we burned like fevers under carriage masks").
The pair approach the Asbury Cliffs (referenced in Fox's dream). Here, Bear says that his brother has passed away and has been laid at the bottom. Mention is made of St. Agnes (saint of virginity/chastity, among other things) and how she was present at the hospital where his brother died. The saint averted her eyes at Bear's brother's death (possibly due to some sort of sexual impurity, or to assume purity and and avoid disappointment?). Bear tells Fox his brother is located at the bottom of the cliff, and that Fox should climb down where "there'll be enough to fill your cup for days". It may be that Bear is telling Fox to eat the remains of his brother to avoid starvation (though Bear says of himself "I'll stay up here and rest"). "There'll be enough to fill your cup for days" might be a reference to the traditional story of the death of St. Agnes, where believers soaked up her spilt blood with rags (insinuating that Bear's brother was indeed a virgin at his death).
Presumably, Bear is trying to get some privacy from Fox so that he can throw himself from the top of the cliff to join his brother and fulfill Fox's earlier dream. In his aside, Bear descibes his fall and his return to his beginnings (which ties in with the next song on the album):
"We'll fly in straight lines as from carronades we'll crash like tidal waves, decimate the islands as our hollowed lumber falls like water, ends where I start in that tattered rag shop back in Asbury Park"
While it looks like Bear is trying to preserve Fox's life, Bear does say "We'll" when describing his death. Not sure what to think about that. The song ends with a stanza I am somewhat clueless on. It seems that Bear may be describing how quickly his strength is leaving him and telling Fox that his survival will make Bear's death and sacrifice (more food for Fox?) worthwhile. If my theory of Bear offering his brother and himself as sustenance is correct (it may not be), this song is slightly dark, but also beautiful.
Further thoughts/corrections welcome.
I would add one thing. I think maybe Bear is lying about having a brother. Rather, he planning to jump from the rocks (as in fox's dream) and save fox from dying of starvation by eating Bear himself (Bear says his brother looks just like him). In Fox's dream people gather after Bear's death looking for answer, and they don't understand his death. Fox seems to understand what Bear did, and charges at the waves maybe in anger (the "cup" in hand might be Bear's blood?), but is tossed back to Bear's remains on the rocks.
I would add one thing. I think maybe Bear is lying about having a brother. Rather, he planning to jump from the rocks (as in fox's dream) and save fox from dying of starvation by eating Bear himself (Bear says his brother looks just like him). In Fox's dream people gather after Bear's death looking for answer, and they don't understand his death. Fox seems to understand what Bear did, and charges at the waves maybe in anger (the "cup" in hand might be Bear's blood?), but is tossed back to Bear's remains on the rocks.
St. Agnes...
St. Agnes looked up from Bear's death because Bear committed suicide, which is a mortal sin that cannot be repented off (even though his intentions were pure). The ending chorus is, to me, Bear slowly dying and telling himself that as long as fox is saved from starvation, the world will be better ("we'll all improve") and thus his sacrifice is worth it. His death will be a good death, to paraphrase Henri Nouwen.
I think this is a very good interpretation of the song and the relationship between Fox & Bear. I just wanted to add that I believe the last stanza is Bear's thoughts after he has jumped from the cliff and is approaching the ground (Sixty feet and my feet won't move / Forty feet and my legs won't move / Ten feet more and nothing moves) and also strengthens the sacrificial nature of his suicide toward Fox (if you improve we'll all improve).
I think this is a very good interpretation of the song and the relationship between Fox & Bear. I just wanted to add that I believe the last stanza is Bear's thoughts after he has jumped from the cliff and is approaching the ground (Sixty feet and my feet won't move / Forty feet and my legs won't move / Ten feet more and nothing moves) and also strengthens the sacrificial nature of his suicide toward Fox (if you improve we'll all improve).
i think that bear's brother did not exist, at least not in the situation the bear is talking about him, but instead he is saying he has a brother at the bottom of the cliff so the fox will not have the moral dilemma of eating his friend.
i think that bear's brother did not exist, at least not in the situation the bear is talking about him, but instead he is saying he has a brother at the bottom of the cliff so the fox will not have the moral dilemma of eating his friend.