@ ffferol Wish I had said that but all I can do is agree wholeheartedly. I just played this video for my husband, who I call Bear and was impressed by the outstanding mandolin, slide and fiddle work. Before, I had been too busy loving the singing and lyrics to notice, which seems a little astounding in retrospect.
20 yrs ago, Lyle was doing a small, quite intimate gig in Cologne, and I was lucky to get a ticket. There I sat, so elated to finally see him play live, and I prayed so hard that he’d sing Bears; my favorite song of his, but not one of his large hits. After 3 other songs, he actually launched into the entry notes of Bear: Dream come true- feeling! 😃😊
I've seen Lyle and his Big Band twice and would go again in a heartbeat! No one does a tune the way he does. Nor develop the level of rapport with the audience that this man does, with ease!
This one excellent song! I heard it on the radio in the 90's - Lyle's version. I knew then, on one hearing, that I had to learn it. I went on about my music studies in graduate school and teaching classical guitar, but finally I sat down w/ RU-vid and learned it about three years ago. Now I play/sing it all the time. Great song!!! (nice vibe here too!!!)
Many years ago Lyle was a client of my sister's in Los Angeles at a travel agency. She LOVED him and said he's truly the nicest person. He's also very talented. I love this song.
Some really great lyrics in this song. One of my favs. . "Me, I just bear up my bewildered best. Some folks see a bear in me." Gotta love a good bear song.
I played harmonica for a guy called Country Don Etheridge, the opening act for Steven Fromholz who wrote this song. Steven said that Lyle Lovett was including it in his next CD . He then said that everyone that has ever met lyle just can't help but love him. When the CD came out I bought it. Great stuff is on it and it goes where ever I go.
The reason his backup musicians are so good is because Lyle is very willing to share the spotlight with these guys. When you don't mind sharing the spotlight, the best will come to play with you.
Glad to see this live version, what a great band! Sam Bush, and I believe that's Mike Auldridge on dobro. I love this song, and I sing it all the time. I think it's mostly about how people view a thing as the one thing they've decided it is, but they all see something different. That's probably not the smartest thing I ever wrote on the internets, I don't know...
40K views and no comments? Love this song - even if it's lyrical sentiments are completely misguided. Hearing Lyle and Tammy harmonize on it is a special treat.
He's an amazing performer. No band is tighter than the Large Band he puts together every year. And his acoustic group? Loved this ... particularly the slightly distorted upright base. Great stuff. And he's also a stunningly great songwriter.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tune! Beeeauutiful, Mr. Lovett!! Total hit. I am a jazz musician, I love all genres and grew up in this genre too. But you have a depth to you! This song is a forever hit in my world! It speaks for me and so many of us!!!
that album by Lyle L (was it Step Inside This House???) was incredible, one of the top 50 ever in my opinion, he took unnoticed writers he knew and made their songs onto his album , this was the lead song, lovely and as deep - or as superficial aka fun - as you want it to be. Yeah some of the comments below don't get it, maybe they missed the English class days when " metaphors" were described...
You could say the Bear represents the not so good looking men that women overlook. Although Lyle didn't write the song, he could be singing it about himself. Of course, with a completely different set of lyrics, it would still be a great song because of the music. Some folks say there ain't no bears in Arkansas Some folks never seen a bear at all Some folks say that bears go around eating babies raw Some folks got a bear across the hall Some folks say that bears go around smelling bad Others say that a bear is honey sweet Some folks say this bear's the best I ever had Some folks got a bear beneath their feet
@@SpearAndMagicHelmetYT dude or lady, I love the song but will not try to outguess the author as to the possible metaphoric meaning of a bear.....could be though, that would be nice too
Like Lyle or hate him... Like his songs or hate 'em... But NO ONE can contest the fact that Lyle Always has assembled the best musicians in his backing band!
... very happy to find this vídeo. I was lucky enough to see LL for the first time live last year in Berlin - and the set included "Bears". LL introduced the song kindly referring to Berlin´s heraldic animal which is ... a bear.
Sam Bush in a suit! This CD is arguably the finest collection of songs I have ever heard. The Ballad of the Snow Leopard and the Tanguerey Cowboy is gorgeous!
Bears Steven Fromholz Some folks say there ain't no bears in Arkansas Some folks never seen a bear at all Some folks say that bears go around eating babies raw Some folks got a bear across the hall Some folks say that bears go around smelling bad Others say that a bear is honey sweet Some folks say this bear's the best I ever had Some folks got a bear beneath their feet Some folks drive the bears out of the wilderness Some to see a bear would pay a fee Me I just bear up my bewildered best And some folks even see the bear in me Some folks drive the bears out of the wilderness Some to see a bear would pay a fee Me I just bear up my bewildered best And some folks even see the bear in me So meet a bear and take him out to lunch with you And even though your friends may stop and stare Just remember that's a bear there in the bunch with you And they just don't come no better than a bear So meet a bear and take him out to lunch with you And even though your friends may stop and stare Just remember that's a bear there in the bunch with you And they just don't come no better than a bear No they just don't come no better than a bear No they just don't come no better than No they just don't come no better than No they just don't come no better than a bear
I wish there was a copy of the Fromholz version where he tells the story of his Aunt Minnie. Aunt Minnie was a school teacher in arkansas and married a bear. Funny story to hear Steve tell it. It's on the Fromholz Live album I think.
This is one of my favorite songs that Leo love it sings. I love bears and I love Leah love it and his beautiful writing. I know he didn't write this song but he very well could have
It just don't come no better than a Bear! ...or Lyle! When people complain there's no good music today they're only partially right. You won't find it on popular radio. MTV has done its best to destroy the soul of original music. But artists from old Lyle to Shelby Lynn, Radiohead, Incognito, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Craig Chaquico, Eric Johnson, Nora Jones, Stereophonics & many others are out there waiting to be discovered just off the beaten path!
This song is, well, special, not for what you think. I knew a "Bear" his name was Bear. We lived together for 7 years. We walked together everyday. We hung out. He was someone I loved. He was our dog. Bear. A Akika shepard mix. Very Beautiful and loyal Bear. Our Bear. I miss you.
@tabber87 - if only. :) But, on the bear hunter tip, as I always say to people who assert that hunting is a sport: 'In a sport, both sides have the same equipment. When the animals have guns, THEN it's a sport.'