How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

The introductory melody of the song is a variation on a Mozart theme that is present in many children’s songs, such as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” the “Alphabet” song, and “Baa Baa Black Sheep.” This introduces the theme of children and pregnancy.

However, the melody is altered before the full theme is complete; perhaps foreshadowing the rest of the song’s narrative. This song also shares melodic leitmotifs with “Sylvia (An Introduction)” and the concluding track “Epilogue”.

Note that the lyrics do not explicitly refer patient and hospice employee metaphor present in the rest of Hospice. This introduces another level of metaphor within the story: a form of mise en abîme. This literary device can be used to provide another level of abstraction, or to bring the story closer to reality. Silberman intentionally avoids stating how much of the album is autobiographical so that listeners can come to their own interpretation.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Antlers say about "Bear"?
Genius Answer

In a Q&A on Reddit, Peter Silberman said:

“Bear” is based on an actual experience, but it’s sort of a reading-between-the-lines retelling of that experience.

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