____45_____
Bon Iver Lyrics

In Bon Iver's song "____45_____", the repetition of "I've been caught in fire, I've been carved in fire" can be interpreted as the singer or subject of the song going through a transformative experience comparable to a burning or carving process. The metaphorical use of fire here can represent the pain, struggle, and destruction that one can go through in life, from which they emerge changed and different. The chorus of the song, "What comes prior to?" may indicate that the singer is questioning the reason for their painful experiences and trying to make sense of the events that led to their transformation.

In the second verse, the singer seems to be reflecting on their recent experience of going through fire, acknowledging that they stayed down the other night, indicating that the experience had a significant impact on them. The line "without knowing what the truth is" suggests that they are struggling to make sense of their experience, and they are uncertain about what it means or what they need to do next. The repetition of the word "fire" at the end of the verse could be seen as a continuation of the metaphor or a way of emphasizing the intensity of the experience.

Overall, the song's message seems to be about the difficult and transformative experiences that one can go through in life and the need to make sense of them. The use of fire as a metaphor adds a depth of meaning to the song, and the repetition of the chorus and certain lines can reflect the cyclical nature of life.