re:Stacks
Bon Iver Lyrics
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Day is Qum'ran
Everything that happens is from now on
This is pouring rain
This is paralyzed
I keep throwing it down, two
Hundred at a time
It's hard to find it when you knew it
When your money's gone
And you're drunk as hell
On your back with your racks as he stacks your load
In the back with the racks and he stacks your load
In the back with the racks and you're unstacking your load
I've been twisting to the sun
I needed to replace
And the fountain in the front yard is rusted out
All my love was down
In a frozen ground
There's a black crow sitting across from me
His wiry legs are crossed
He's dangling my keys, he even fakes a toss
Whatever could it be
That has brought me to this loss?
On your back with your racks as he stacks your load
In the back with the racks and he stacks your load
In the back with the racks and you're unstacking your load
This is not the sound of a new man
Or a crispy realization
It's the sound of me unlocking and you lift away
Your love will be
Safe with me
The opening lines of the song "re: Stacks" by Bon Iver is a metaphorical interpretation of the writer's thoughts and feelings about his life. The writer feels like he is on an archaeological excavation, digging deep into the past to make sense of the present. The reference to Qum'ran could be an allusion to the Dead Sea Scrolls found near the ancient site. The lyrics suggest that the writer is in a new phase of his life and everything that happens will be from that point forward. The imagery of pouring rain and paralysis suggests a sense of overwhelm and uncertainty.
The second verse speaks about the writer's struggle to find the things he needs. He throws down his money, but it's hard to find what he's looking for because he's lost and drunk. The third verse explores the meaning of life and trying to find happiness. The fountain in the front yard being rusted out is symbolic of how the writer's happiness and love have dried up. The black crow is a metaphor for death or some kind of loss. The writer wonders what brought him to this point of loss.
The chorus repeats the phrase "On your back with your racks as he stacks your load." This line suggests the metaphorical image of someone lying on their back while someone else piles up their load on them. The phrase "in the back with the racks and you're unstacking your load" means that the person is trying to get rid of the load that has been piled up on them. The final lines of the song indicate that the writer is letting go of the past and moving forward. The sound is not that of a new man but rather that of the writer unlocking himself from the past and his emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
This my excavation and to
I am exploring my inner self to find something significant
Day is Qum'ran
This is a reference to the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Qum'ran, signifying the importance of the current moment
Everything that happens is from now on
The future is uncertain, so everything happening now is important
This is pouring rain
The current situation is overwhelming and difficult
This is paralyzed
The artist feels stuck and unable to move forward
I keep throwing it down, two
The singer is trying to get rid of something
Hundred at a time
A lot at once
It's hard to find it when you knew it
It's difficult to find something after you have lost it
When your money's gone
The artist has lost something valuable
And you're drunk as hell
The artist is in a bad state of mind
On your back with your racks as he stacks your load
Someone else is controlling the singer's life and adding to their burden
In the back with the racks and he stacks your load
The burden is getting heavier and more difficult to manage
In the back with the racks and you're unstacking your load
The singer is trying to regain control of their life
I've been twisting to the sun
The singer is seeking guidance and hope
I needed to replace
The singer is trying to fill a void in their life
And the fountain in the front yard is rusted out
Something beautiful and valuable has been lost or damaged
All my love was down
The artist's feelings of love have been depleted
In a frozen ground
The love is no longer alive or flourishing
There's a black crow sitting across from me
The crow represents a symbol of death or bad luck
His wiry legs are crossed
The crow appears calm and in control
He's dangling my keys, he even fakes a toss
The artist's future is uncertain and out of their control
Whatever could it be
The artist is questioning the cause of their misfortune
That has brought me to this loss?
The singer is trying to understand the reason for their hardship
This is not the sound of a new man
The artist is not changing or starting anew
Or a crispy realization
The singer is not having an epiphany or awakening
It's the sound of me unlocking and you lift away
The singer is releasing their emotional burden and letting go of the past
Your love will be
The singer is addressing someone they care about
Safe with me
The artist promises to take care of their loved one's emotions
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind