The name 'Bon Iver' (pronounced "bon ee-VAIR") is a play on the French phrase 'bon hiver' meaning 'good winter'. Vernon independently released Bon Iver's debut album For Emma, Forever Ago in 2007, most of which was recorded during a four-month stay in a remote cabin in Wisconsin.
While in high school and college Vernon founded the indie-rock bands Mount Vernon and DeYarmond Edison in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he still resides.
According to the For Emma Songfacts, after the break-up of De Yarmond Edison, Vernon retreated to his father's log cabin, out in the woods of north-east Wisconsin to hibernate for three snowy months. There he collected his thoughts and formulated them into a suite of songs, For Emma, Forever Ago . The album was originally self-released in late 2007 in a run of 500 copies and sold out instantly.
The album garnered critical acclaim, and was picked up by the indie-rock label Jagjaguwar, which gave the album a proper release on February 19th, 2008. The album was released in the UK and Europe by iconic indie 4AD on May 12, 2008.
When released in the UK, For Emma, Forever Ago received 5/5 and "Album of the Month" reviews in both MOJO and Uncut magazines. It is currently the third highest rated album of 2008 on review-aggregator site Metacritic, with accolades from publications including The Village Voice, The Hartford Courant and The A.V. Club.
The group's second album Bon Iver, Bon Iver was released on June 17, 2011 to universal acclaim. It was named by Pitchfork Media as the best album of 2011 on their annual list. At the 2012 Grammys, the album won Best Alternative Album and the group was awarded Best New Artist, despite having debuted in 2007.
www.boniver.org
00000 Million
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That took me on them wild courses
Who knows how many poses
That I've been in
But them the main closest
Hark! it gives meaning mine
I cannot really post this
Ah feel the signs
And I worried bout lightning
But I watched them off
To the light of the morning
Marking the slope
Slung low in the highlands
Where the days have no numbers
If it's harmed, it's harmed me, it'll harm, I let it in
Oh, the old modus
Out to be leading live
Said, comes the old ponens
Demit to strive
A word about Gnosis
It ain't gonna buy the groceries
Or middle-out locusts
Or weigh to find
I hurry bout shame
And I worry bout a worn path
And I wander off
Just to come back home
Turning to waltz
Hold high in the lowlands
Cause the days have no numbers
It harms me, it harms me, it harms like a lamb
So I can depose this
Partial to the bleeding vines
Suppose you can't hold shit
How high I've been
What a river don't know is
To climb out and heed a line
To slow among roses
Or stay behind
I've been to that grove
Where no matter the source is
And I walked it off how long I'd last
Sore-ring to cope
Whole band on the canyon
Cause the days have no numbers
Well it harms, it harms me, it harms, I'll let it in
In "00000 Million" by Bon Iver, the lyrics seem to explore themes of uncertainty and vulnerability, with the singer reflecting on the various challenges and hardships they have faced throughout their life. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been through many difficult situations ("wild courses"), adopting multiple personas ("poses"), but finds solace in the people closest to them, highlighted by the phrase "them the main closest". However, the singer seems conflicted about sharing their struggles in public, mentioning that they "cannot really post this" and instead experience a deep sense of understanding through more personal connections ("Hark! it gives meaning mine").
Throughout the song, the singer continues to grapple with feelings of insecurity and self-doubt, worrying about things like rain, lightning, shame, and a "worn path". Yet, they also seem to find some measure of comfort in the uncertainty of life ("Where the days have no numbers"), accepting that harm will come their way but choosing to embrace it regardless ("It harms me, it harms me, it harms like a lamb. Well, I’ll let it in").
Overall, "00000 Million" seems to be a reflective and introspective meditation on the complexities of the human experience, grappling with the pain and uncertainty of life while acknowledging the beauty that can emerge from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Must've been forces
There must have been some unknown forces that led me on my crazy journey
That took me on them wild courses
These forces took me on wild and unpredictable paths
Who knows how many poses
I've lost track of how many different identities or phases I've gone through
That I've been in
All of the different identities or phases I've experienced
But them the main closest
Despite all of these changes, my true self has always been present and constant
Hark! it gives meaning mine
This true self gives meaning to my entire existence
I cannot really post this
I struggle to put this feeling into words
Ah feel the signs
I sense the presence of something greater than myself
I worried bout rain
I worried about things I can't control
And I worried bout lightning
I worried about the unpredictable and dangerous aspects of life
But I watched them off
I let go of these worries
To the light of the morning
I found hope in the new day
Marking the slope
I'm aware of my journey and where I've been
Slung low in the highlands
I feel grounded and humble in the midst of highs and lows
Where the days have no numbers
Time is meaningless in this state of introspection
If it's harmed, it's harmed me, it'll harm, I let it in
If something causes harm to me, I accept and acknowledge it without resistance
Oh, the old modus
The old way of doing things
Out to be leading live
Tried to lead my life in this old way
Said, comes the old ponens
Then the old way of thinking
Demit to strive
Gave up on trying to change things
A word about Gnosis
A word about spiritual knowledge
It ain't gonna buy the groceries
This spiritual knowledge won't provide for my basic needs
Or middle-out locusts
It won't protect me from the destructive forces of society
Or weigh to find
It won't help me find balance
I hurry bout shame
I'm always in a rush, and I'm ashamed of it
And I worry bout a worn path
I worry that my life has become too routine and predictable
And I wander off
I sometimes leave my routine and explore new paths
Just to come back home
But I always come back to where I started
Turning to waltz
I'm comfortable with the cyclical nature of life
Hold high in the lowlands
I maintain a sense of purpose and dignity even in low points
Cause the days have no numbers
Time is once again meaningless
It harms me, it harms me, it harms like a lamb
Even small things that cause me harm can be painful
So I can depose this
I need to let go of my old ways of thinking and behaving
Partial to the bleeding vines
I'm drawn to things that are raw and emotional
Suppose you can't hold shit
It's impossible to always maintain control
How high I've been
I've experienced great highs in my life
What a river don't know is
There are things that are beyond our understanding
To climb out and heed a line
To overcome challenges, we need to focus and follow our instincts
To slow among roses
Sometimes we need to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us
Or stay behind
But other times, we need to move forward and not be held back by our surroundings
I've been to that grove
I've been to that place of introspection and self-discovery
Where no matter the source is
A place where true knowledge can be found regardless of where it comes from
And I walked it off how long I'd last
I challenge myself to see how long I can endure this journey of self-discovery
Sore-ring to cope
Even when we are struggling, we find ways to cope and move forward
Whole band on the canyon
I'm surrounded by the beauty of nature
Cause the days have no numbers
Once again, time is irrelevant
Well it harms, it harms me, it harms, I'll let it in
Even when something causes harm, I'm willing to accept it as part of my experience
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Fionn Regan, Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon, Michael L. Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@creating-visuals
I can not get over how good this album actually is.
what a masterpiece!
@hamidababar2287
b
@bluebaconjake405
Yet so many people hated it and left bon iver when this album got released. Im happy those people left. They dont deserve this masterpiece
@LongTim-
Its still a masterpiece many years later
@drtazzer
"And I wander off just to come back home"
Yeah, I feel that.
@1995Auburn
"if it's harmed me, it's harmed me it'll harm me I let it in." Idk why, but those lyrics really get to me.
@Gofaw
TheSarcasticOne
What does it mean though
@latentfuss711
We might never know what he meant, but to me, it's about making yourself vulnerable. "it harms like a lamb" reminds me of sacrificial lambs, as this whole album has a lot of biblical references. The only way a lamb can harm you is if you let yourself love them, because then it hurts to see them be slaughtered. There's always going to be some pain in love, but I want to let it in
@TheStygianAbyss24
its the idea that you must live in the present and let everything flow in. the good times, the bad times. let them both in. the entire album is about struggling with his belief in the christian god, the anxiety nature of some of the songs, the sentimental songs that sound like he's trying to relive a moment in the past. we are anxious because we live too far into the future. we are depressed because we live too far in the past. this song is literally an entire life lesson so pay attention. he's telling you that it must have been something out of his control that got him to where he is now in his life. he realizes that what gives his own life meaning is his "main closest". he worried about rain and lightning, but he realizes it's not so bad as he watched the morning light that came after. he's saying thinking about the mysteries of the universe (something common with depressed people) is okay, but you still have to get out of bed and live your life. this is one of the best albums i've heard. it got me through some tough shit.
@nataliefindley7071
@@TheStygianAbyss24 thank you for this 🙏