The Bear With The Maiden Fair

Album: Single Release Only (2013)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song tells the story of a bear at a fair who seduces a maiden in search of a knight. It was recorded by The Hold Steady for Game Of Thrones with the lyrics written by the TV saga's writer George RR Martin and music by the show's composer Ramin Djawadi. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Game Of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss explained the tune is "one of the most popular songs in Westeros, beloved by nobles and commoners alike, sung at taverns and feasts." The song was released on seven-inch vinyl on April 20, 2013 for Record Store Day.
  • So why was indie band The Hold Steady chosen to record the track? Benioff and Weiss explained: "We wanted our rendition to be bawdy and a little sloppy - drunken musicians getting up on the table and jamming while the rowdy party continues around them. There was no-one better for the job than The Hold Steady, and the song they delivered has been stuck in our heads for the last four weeks."

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