Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader

• +1
  My Interpretation:I think this song is about relationships, self-sabatouge....how putting rules on love only kills it. Or just about life in general...trying to predict the future/control it/plan it...and how the more you try to control life, the more you miss the point, and the more miserably you live...because the only thing you can control in life is yourself.
  
  The first verse reminds me of how we attempt to pretend that everything is perfect even if it is not, and the monotony of that. "Mention a name, appear tame, please don't feign (fake it), always the same..."
  
  "Chance and sow" are the two ways that anything occurs. Either by chance, or by planning...or "sowing" seeds...but even through what might seem like change, it all ends up the same... "Nothing changing" (different people or situations, but the same inherent patterns/habits/feelings).
  
  The next verse makes me think of the emphasis so many put on time "There's no time, to go. Through the designs, we know"...deadlines...etc...instead of letting something naturally take its course. Trying to force something before it is ready. In the end realizing it is not the way to go about it and hoping to remember and learn for next time...."Never mind, although. Maybe this time, we'll grow"
  
  "I'm shooting them myself, I should've made it matter" This to me is regret for going about it all wrong. "Shooting" or basically ruining something pure by putting societies pressures on it...and realizing that to just "Let it go" would have been more successful.
  
  I think it's called Cheerleader, to remind us all to just let go and live life...to cheer us along in not making the mistakes mentioned in the song.

  Flag hr626on January 11, 2013   Link

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• +1
  My Interpretation:I agree with the user said it was about a guy trying to make it work but failing. I don't know what "shooting them myself" means though. I guess sense he made it sound like "I'm cheerleading them myself" it's talking about how he is trying to push himself to work on the relationship but she is essentially making himself more miserable by trying to keep a relationship that will never work out.

  Flag Aenema91on September 12, 2010   Link

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• 0
  Lyric Correction:yeah, haha. those lyrics are beyond incorrect. "i'm shooting them myself'' doesn't even make sense. but still, great song.

  Flag gabyissocoolon July 14, 2010   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:On the Grizzly Bear website, they lyrics say "I'm shooting them myself."

  Flag saundraaaon May 22, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:No this is correct. It's "I'm shooting them myself". Droste made it ambiguous on purpose, he made it sound lik "cheerleading" but that isn't it. Creepy but amazing.

  Flag kylecollectiveon January 21, 2010   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I think that the idea about it being related to high school and stereotypes is quite a good one. At first I thought it might be about hearing rumours or something like that, but that's a pretty lame idea.
  
  All I can really say is that I adore this song live. Chris's vocals are wonderful, as are Ed's (naturally).

  Flag LucyCamillaon November 24, 2009   Link

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• +2
  General Comment:this songs about regret.

  Flag oh_somedayon November 17, 2009   Link

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    that is the most direct and correct interpretation ever. I like it

    Flag simentfon April 06, 2010  
• 0
  My Opinion:The posted lyrics are correct.
  "I'm shooting them myself,
  I should've made it matter", and so on.
  Maybe buying the CD/vinyl would be a good idea...
  The lyrics are clearly stated in the album's booklet.
  Mp3 quality just doesn't have the clarity of a real, PURCHASED album.
  
  Plus this album is soo pretty... Just buy it :)
  

  Flag buythealbumyoupirateson October 24, 2009   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:When I heard the song, I thought of the Colombine school shooting and I pictured a bunch of high school stereotypes being killed by guns.
  And on the album, the lyrics for it the chorus are definitely (I'm shooting them myslef, I shouldn't let it matter).

  Flag happyanxietyon October 11, 2009   Link

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    I totally agree! I got the idea that "Cheerleader" points to the kids in the popular group at school who are more like than not responsible for the bullying of those who have a harder time fitting in. Lines like "Appear tame, it shows.... god let it go, chance and sow, nothing changing" could point to signs of violence in some of those who are being bullied but go ignored. "I'm shooting them myself, I should have made it matter" could be the sentiment of a student who witnessed this bullying but did nothing to stop it, causing him to feel personally responsible for the deaths of those killed when the radical students took their revenge in the form of a school shooting. Very interesting possibility although many of the songs on this album are very amorphous and open to multiple interpretations.
    
    

    Flag HearTheMeaningon October 19, 2009  
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  General Comment:so how do we change incorrect lyrics b/c its def "cheerleading myself"...i'm new to this website and I'd like to know!

  Flag jimthepisceson October 09, 2009   Link

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