For Emma
Bon-Iver Lyrics

The opening lines of Bon-Iver's song "For Emma" convey a sense of abruptness and sudden realization, perhaps of mortality. The imagery of seeing death on a sunny day is both jarring and thought-provoking. The next lines suggest a realization that every life is valuable and meaningful- a call to forego any attempts to simplify or make sense of it in the form of parable. Instead, the singer seems to be seeking light- a ray of clarity or understanding- as he feels the coldness in his knees.

There is a melancholic mood to the song that is amplified by the repetition of "running home". The urgency and desperation of the singer's desire to escape or find solace is palpable. In the middle of the song, there is a sudden shift in perspective as the singer addresses someone else- perhaps a former lover. The lines suggest a certain degree of bitterness and disappointment, yet there is also a recognition that this person is still loved despite their lies. The final lines- "I toured the light so many foreign roads, for Emma, forever ago"- seem to suggest that the song is a tribute to someone named Emma, who may have been a source of inspiration or comfort for the singer in the past.