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Blood Bank
Bon Iver Lyrics


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Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags

You said "see lookit, that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers"

And I said I know it well

That secret that you knew
But don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red

Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar

You said "ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this"
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss

And I said I know it well

That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?

And I said I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well

Overall Meaning

The song "Blood Bank" by Bon Iver is a poignant and introspective reflection on a moment of deep connection between two people. The opening lines describe a chance encounter at a blood bank, where the singer and their companion are observing the different colors and names on the bags of blood, searching for familiarity. The singer's companion points out their own bag, alongside that of their brother, and notes the resemblance. The two share a moment of recognition, a secret understanding that they both know but cannot quite articulate.


The second verse describes a shift in mood as snow begins to fall and the two become physically closer, huddled together in a car. The singer's companion remarks on the serendipitous nature of their meeting, describing it as being "just like the present." The two then share a kiss, and the singer again reflects on their shared secret, the unspoken knowledge that they are both feeling an intense emotional connection.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I met you at the blood bank
I first encountered you in a place reserved for people seeking to donate blood.


We were looking at the bags
Together, we examined the parcels of blood for donation.


Wondering if any of the colors
We speculated whether there were any shades of blood that corresponded to people we knew.


Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
We hoped to find any names we could relate to on the labels of the blood samples.


You said 'see lookit, that's yours
You pointed towards a bag of blood that you inferred was mine.


Stacked on top with your brother's
It was placed atop a parcel of blood that belonged to my brother.


See how they resemble one another
You observed how the two samples were similar to each other.


Even in their plastic little covers'
Due to the protective cover, it's remarkable how they seemed identical.


And I said I know it well
I responded that I was already aware of this.


That secret that you knew
The hidden knowledge that you possess.


But don't know how to tell
The information you're not confident in sharing.


It fucks with your honor
The data disorients your sense of respect and dignity.


And it teases your head
The insight taunts your mind and thoughts.


But you know that it's good, girl
You're aware that what you know is valuable, important, and beneficial.


'Cause its running you with red
The knowledge makes your blood boil with excitement and sensation.


Then the snow started falling
The snowflakes began to descend from the sky.


We were stuck out in your car
We got stranded in your automobile.


You were rubbing both of my hands
You held both my hands, warming them with friction.


Chewing on a candy bar
You were munching on a sweet snack.


You said 'ain't this just like the present
You remarked how the situation was similar to an immediate gift or something unexpected that happened.


To be showing up like this'
To come across like this unexpectedly.


As a moon waned to crescent
The moon began to lose its full round shape and became a crescent.


We started to kiss
We initiated physical intimacy by putting our lips together.


That secret that we know
The undisclosed knowledge we share.


That we don't know how to tell
The information we found hard to communicate.


I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your dignity, principles, and righteousness.


I'm in love with your cheeks
I cherish your soft and smooth cheeks, which I find attractive.


What's that noise up the stairs babe?
I inquired about the sound echoing from upstairs.


Is that Christmas morning creaks?
I asked if the sound came from floorboards, customary for Christmas Day.


And I said I know it well
I repeated my familiarity with this whole experience.


And I know it well
I am familiar with this whole event.


And I know it well
I am no stranger to the circumstances.


And I know it well
I can relate to this pretty good.


And I know it well
I am definitely sure about what happened.


And I know it well
My experiences enable me to say I have good knowledge of what happened.


And I know it well
It is firmly established in my understanding.


And I know it well
I realize it all very well.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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