The bear is obviously a newly conceived fetus. Evidence stems from the "kicking" and "we'll put an end to him." This sort of mutual decision that the couple will be getting an abortion. This can be supported by "we'll make all the right appointments no one ever has to know."
The next deals with the sort of social ramifications of being young parents. They are "scripting another show" because they are both worried about what is going on, but at the same time they have to keep composure. "Turning 21" reveals that the narrator is a young father and "drink champagne although you shouldn't be" adds further foundation that the significant other is indeed carrying a child.
Their friends are avoiding them simply out of social context and wanting to distance themselves from people who have made poor decisions.
Chorus:
The narrator becomes very duplicitous at this point. You can look at the idea of that being 21 is a responsible age to have a child, that the couple is coping out for strictly social reasons.
Second Verse:
Without being mundane, "cutting a bear from underneath" can only mean one thing. My explanation of the chorus can further be supported by the line, "we're not scared of making caves or finding food for him to eat, we're terrified of one another and terrified of what that means."
I have had a bit of a revelation that in the end the procedure never happens. The line "I'll know we're fucked and not getting unfucked soon" can be taken that to be "fucked" means to be pregnant and if they aren't getting "unfucked soon" maybe it was her quick decision that changed the plan.l
I think you're definitely right about the procedure not occurring. In an interview Silberman said, "Peter Jr. is doing pretty great. It was really splendid watching my first born son grow up as Hospice grew up and bloomed into a record. I'm glad that we decided to keep him, despite the gross physical deformity that made him appear to be a bear on all of the sonograms. He's a lovely boy."
I think you're definitely right about the procedure not occurring. In an interview Silberman said, "Peter Jr. is doing pretty great. It was really splendid watching my first born son grow up as Hospice grew up and bloomed into a record. I'm glad that we decided to keep him, despite the gross physical deformity that made him appear to be a bear on all of the sonograms. He's a lovely boy."
I agree with most everything wyliekyle has already posted. However I disagree with the following points:
I agree with most everything wyliekyle has already posted. However I disagree with the following points:
"We'll script another show" in my opinion means one of two things, I'm not sure which one though. First, perhaps they must now rewrite a new chapter in their "post abortion" lives; one that includes the strangeness and sense of dislocation felt between young lovers that choose to destroy something they have accidentally and unfortunately created. Something this real in the lives of young people inevitably leads to a sense of fractured reality. They are no longer playing young people's games and they are not at all ready for the reality of such an adult decision. Or maybe it means that they must continue lying about her pregnancy to their friends. This second possibility seems to be a bit weak as it doesn't take into account the fact that their friends have already begun dodging their phone calls as a response to their new role as pregnant outcasts in their social clique. Both are tenuous but I think they are a bit closer to what is actually meant.
The real reason for my post is to respond to wylikyle's belief about the young couple not actually getting the abortion. When he writes "I'll know we're fucked. Not getting unfucked soon" he is stating that their relationship is "fucked," or no longer sustainable once the procedure is complete. He is aware that while she makes him sit in the waiting room (she won't have him near her and doesn't want him there for support)he is simply beginning the end of their relationship. He is waiting out their demise. After the abortion they will be "bigger strangers than we've ever been before" and he will have to watch her "sit in front of snowy television, suitcase on the floor." The snowy television acts as a metaphor for their broken and disconnected relationship and her suitcase is packed as she is leaving him. Just a thought.
I agree with you except I don't believe "unfucked" refers to the pregnancy. I believe they do get the procedure done. "We'll make only quick decisions and you'll keep me in the waiting room"
I agree with you except I don't believe "unfucked" refers to the pregnancy. I believe they do get the procedure done. "We'll make only quick decisions and you'll keep me in the waiting room"
He is waiting in the room after the decisions have been made, and he is in the waiting room as she gets the procedure done.
He is waiting in the room after the decisions have been made, and he is in the waiting room as she gets the procedure done.
Being fucked refers to their relationship. They have problems that can't be unfucked and now they're strangers.
Being fucked refers to their relationship. They have problems that can't be unfucked and now they're strangers.
Furthered Translation:
First Verse:
The bear is obviously a newly conceived fetus. Evidence stems from the "kicking" and "we'll put an end to him." This sort of mutual decision that the couple will be getting an abortion. This can be supported by "we'll make all the right appointments no one ever has to know."
The next deals with the sort of social ramifications of being young parents. They are "scripting another show" because they are both worried about what is going on, but at the same time they have to keep composure. "Turning 21" reveals that the narrator is a young father and "drink champagne although you shouldn't be" adds further foundation that the significant other is indeed carrying a child.
Their friends are avoiding them simply out of social context and wanting to distance themselves from people who have made poor decisions.
Chorus:
The narrator becomes very duplicitous at this point. You can look at the idea of that being 21 is a responsible age to have a child, that the couple is coping out for strictly social reasons.
Second Verse:
Without being mundane, "cutting a bear from underneath" can only mean one thing. My explanation of the chorus can further be supported by the line, "we're not scared of making caves or finding food for him to eat, we're terrified of one another and terrified of what that means."
I have had a bit of a revelation that in the end the procedure never happens. The line "I'll know we're fucked and not getting unfucked soon" can be taken that to be "fucked" means to be pregnant and if they aren't getting "unfucked soon" maybe it was her quick decision that changed the plan.l
I think you're definitely right about the procedure not occurring. In an interview Silberman said, "Peter Jr. is doing pretty great. It was really splendid watching my first born son grow up as Hospice grew up and bloomed into a record. I'm glad that we decided to keep him, despite the gross physical deformity that made him appear to be a bear on all of the sonograms. He's a lovely boy."
I think you're definitely right about the procedure not occurring. In an interview Silberman said, "Peter Jr. is doing pretty great. It was really splendid watching my first born son grow up as Hospice grew up and bloomed into a record. I'm glad that we decided to keep him, despite the gross physical deformity that made him appear to be a bear on all of the sonograms. He's a lovely boy."
Sounds like he kept the kid to me!
Sounds like he kept the kid to me!
I agree with most everything wyliekyle has already posted. However I disagree with the following points:
I agree with most everything wyliekyle has already posted. However I disagree with the following points:
"We'll script another show" in my opinion means one of two things, I'm not sure which one though. First, perhaps they must now rewrite a new chapter in their "post abortion" lives; one that includes the strangeness and sense of dislocation felt between young lovers that choose to destroy something they have accidentally and unfortunately created. Something this real in the lives of young people inevitably leads to a sense of fractured reality. They are no longer playing young people's games and they are not at all ready for the reality of such an adult decision. Or maybe it means that they must continue lying about her pregnancy to their friends. This second possibility seems to be a bit weak as it doesn't take into account the fact that their friends have already begun dodging their phone calls as a response to their new role as pregnant outcasts in their social clique. Both are tenuous but I think they are a bit closer to what is actually meant.
The real reason for my post is to respond to wylikyle's belief about the young couple not actually getting the abortion. When he writes "I'll know we're fucked. Not getting unfucked soon" he is stating that their relationship is "fucked," or no longer sustainable once the procedure is complete. He is aware that while she makes him sit in the waiting room (she won't have him near her and doesn't want him there for support)he is simply beginning the end of their relationship. He is waiting out their demise. After the abortion they will be "bigger strangers than we've ever been before" and he will have to watch her "sit in front of snowy television, suitcase on the floor." The snowy television acts as a metaphor for their broken and disconnected relationship and her suitcase is packed as she is leaving him. Just a thought.
I agree with you except I don't believe "unfucked" refers to the pregnancy. I believe they do get the procedure done. "We'll make only quick decisions and you'll keep me in the waiting room"
I agree with you except I don't believe "unfucked" refers to the pregnancy. I believe they do get the procedure done. "We'll make only quick decisions and you'll keep me in the waiting room"
He is waiting in the room after the decisions have been made, and he is in the waiting room as she gets the procedure done.
He is waiting in the room after the decisions have been made, and he is in the waiting room as she gets the procedure done.
Being fucked refers to their relationship. They have problems that can't be unfucked and now they're strangers.
Being fucked refers to their relationship. They have problems that can't be unfucked and now they're strangers.