Problem Bears
Tragically Hip, The
In Violet Light (2002)

Writing a song about Lake Memphramagog
And tonight I don't believe there are words to spare and be a tip and a nod
Admitting it's half the defeat

Tonight the non-essential worker is hunting the problem bears
One sounds cornered and one can go no further
And it all sounds like it's happening upstairs

Do you hear that?
Like dry leaves a-straggling
Or a guard dog's claws on cement
Or an idea that's gettin' more determined to get where it's gettin'

This might be harder than keeping it simple
Yeah, this can be simpler than keeping it real
This might be harder than keeping it simple
Yeah, this can be simpler than keeping it real

Shakespeare, you're a drunken savage
Well, you're a sober and green-eyed Voltaire
It almost sounds funny like two tough-talking goalies who are really going at it upstairs

This might be harder than keeping it simple
Yeah, this can be simpler than keeping it real
This might be harder than keeping it simple
Yeah, this can be simpler than keeping it real

Tonight the non-essential worker takes on the green-eyed Voltaire
Who won't go further than sounding just like murder when everything is quiet upstairs

Now do you hear that?
The song of Memphramagog
The shush-shush of his gentle lament
It's maybe a song that can't quite be determined till it gets where it's getting