Blood Bank
Bon-Iver Lyrics
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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
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
The lyrics to Bon-Iver's "Blood Bank" narrate an intimate moment between two individuals who met at a blood bank. As they studied the bags of blood, they compared the colors to the names and tags they knew, trying to match them. When the female acquaintance finds the bag with the same color and tag as the male acquaintance's brother, he confirms it by saying, "That secret that you knew, but don't know how to tell." It underlines that the male acquaintance has an intimate relationship with the woman and his brother, making him privy to a secret that he had to keep for himself. He knows how it has torn the woman apart, as the secret "fucks with your honor and teases your head." The secret is profound and emotionally draining, but it is what makes the individual unique and vibrant, running within her veins like blood.
It is then that the snow starts falling, trapping the pair in a car. The woman rubs the man's hands and chews a candy bar while reflecting on how the present moment feels surreal. The two then share a kiss as the moon wanes to a crescent. The final verse is a repetition of the previous verse, with the difference that the man takes the lead and ruminates on his love for the woman's honor and cheeks while a loose floorboard above them causes the sound of what seems like "Christmas morning creaks." Overall, the song captures the profound intimacy between two lovers, their shared secrets and the magic of being snowed into a car with someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I met you at the blood bank
The singer met someone at the hospital's blood bank.
We were looking at the bags
Together, they were examining bags of blood.
Wondering if any of the colors
They were curious to see if any of the colors of the blood bags were familiar.
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
They were checking if the names on the tags matched those of anyone they knew.
You said "see lookit, that's yours
The other person pointed to a blood bag and said it belonged to the singer.
Stacked on top with your brother's
The bag was placed on top of another bag that belonged to the singer's brother.
See how they resemble one another
The two bags matched in appearance, even with their plastic covers on.
Even in their plastic little covers"
The plastic covers didn't hide the fact that the two bags were similar.
And I said I know it well
The singer acknowledged the familiarity of the situation.
That secret that you knew
The other person knew a secret.
But don't know how to tell
They were unsure of how to reveal this secret.
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
The secret creates inner turmoil and conflict for the other person.
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red
The other person is aware that this secret is important, as it affects them deeply.
Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
The scene shifts and the two of them are outside in a car during snowfall.
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar
In this intimate moment, the other person comforted the singer while chewing on a candy bar.
You said "ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this"
The other person remarked on the coincidence of this moment, how it was like a gift.
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss
The setting is romantic, with a waning moon, and the two of them share a kiss.
That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
The singer highlights that they also share in the same secret that they cannot reveal.
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
The singer expresses their love for the other person's values and physical appearance.
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?
A sound is heard, and the singer queries if it is from the stairs, or possibly just the sound of Christmas morning.
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
The song ends with the singer repeatedly stating that they know the situation and the secret well.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@artnaut
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 look there, 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 you 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 it's running you with red
Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both 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 know it well
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
@youllfigureitoutb
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
@gannonrinehart6077
Bon Iver makes me want to spend every second with my future love I haven't met, but also makes me want to spend my life in a cabin in the woods alone
@marwazein7283
Its almost the same for me! Being full of contradictions makes us more human...
@joshwilliams7118
Teases your head
@edoprabowo1502
yesss!! exactly
@redabadaoui1641
so relatable
@Syar12
Yeah, live in the forest alone with soulmate and listening to indie music everyday.
@dundermifflinthisiserin
nothing hurts my heart more than music by bon iver
@iztomtom4122
julia rob hurts Then you should listen to Sufjan Stevens. Will rip your heart apart. Look up 4th of July by him.
@janb.1550
Ever tried eating only fast food, doing nothing and smoking vigorously 3+ packs of cigarettes a day? That will literally stop your heart.
@kumokha121
IRISHTOMMY ahhh, cry again