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
08. For Emma
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw death on a sunny snow
For every life
Forgo the parable
Seek the light
My knees are cold
Running home, running home
Running home, running home
Go find another lover
To bring a, to string along
With all your lies
You're still very lovable
I toured the light so many foreign roads
For Emma, forever ago
The lyrics of Bon Iver's "For Emma" is having a somber tone throughout the song. The lyrics start with "So abruptly / Saw death on a sunny snow" which could be seen as a metaphor for unexpected loss. It's showing that the singer had experienced something traumatic in their life, and it has been haunting them ever since. The next lyric "For every life / Forgo the parable" seems to suggest that the singer has been searching for answers to the meaning of their own life. They want to understand why they had to go through what they did or why they are the way they are. The line "Seek the light / My knees are cold" seems to be a cry for help or comfort. The singer is asking for guidance and support but is having trouble finding it, feeling lost and unsure of what to do.
The chorus "Running home, running home / Running home, running home" repeats, as if reinforcing this idea of being lost and searching for something or somewhere they can call home. Towards the end of the song, the singer states, "Go find another lover / To bring a, to string along / with all your lies / you're still very lovable." This line seems to be an acceptance of the reality that people can be deceiving and untrustworthy, but still, have redeeming qualities that make them lovable. The singer ends the song repeating "For Emma, forever ago" which refers to the album's namesake, Justin Vernon's ex-girlfriend, and serves as a callback to the main theme of the album, heartache and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
So abruptly
The singer experienced something unexpected and sudden.
Saw death on a sunny snow
The singer witnessed an unusual event - death on a snow-covered landscape that is typically viewed as peaceful and serene.
For every life
The singer wants to make a statement that applies to everyone, regardless of their circumstances or experiences.
Forgo the parable
The artist is advising listeners to avoid relying on abstract stories or fables to guide their behavior and beliefs.
Seek the light
The artist encourages others to seek out positive experiences and emotions, rather than dwelling on negativity or sadness.
My knees are cold
The singer is physically uncomfortable or exposed to the elements, possibly shivering and breaking down from the strain.
Running home, running home
The singer is desperate to return to a place of safety and comfort, possibly escaping a dangerous or uncomfortable situation.
Go find another lover
The artist instructs someone to seek out a new romantic partner, as the current relationship is not healthy or fulfilling.
To bring a, to string along
The artist describes a potential role for the new lover - someone who may be used as a temporary distraction or toy.
With all your lies
The artist acknowledges that the new lover may not be completely honest or authentic, and may be deceiving themselves or others.
You're still very lovable
The singer is reassuring the new lover that they are still valued and deserving of love, despite their flaws.
I toured the light so many foreign roads
The artist has taken many trips or journeys, both literal and metaphorical, through different cultures and experiences in order to gain perspective and understanding.
For Emma, forever ago
The singer is reflecting on their past and possibly on a specific relationship or event from long ago that they can never reclaim or change.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Suj
A truly beautiful album. Every listen feels brand new and every time a tear is brought to my eye. "Everyone has their own Emma", how true. Thank you Justin for Emma, and thank you Middle8 for doing it justice. More people deserve this album
Alex Edwards
Luv his debut LP tho he keeps getting even better imo his latest surpasses 4Emma
Michele Salluce
This will forever be his masterpiece. Really hard to find other albums with the same thirst, the same search for what's distinctively your innermost feeling. He came very close to revealing his inner world, which is impossible given the human condition. Yet he got very close here.
Ross Keller
Completely agree. I appreciate all his projects, but for Emma is probably the most raw emotion I’ve ever heard before. Dude basically transformed every emotion he was feeling over a 6 month period into sound
Nathan O'Connell
Give blood sport (the room below) by sleep token a try. If it calls to you, enjoy the journey
John Appleton
In terms of what you’re talking about, I’d say Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Airplane over the Sea” has to be one of the greatest records ever made. There are on some tracks backing musicians, but it’s mostly Jeff Magnum with an acoustic guitar and his voice, and he made with simple open chords one of the best records of all time.
ghost mall
I have never listened to this album and had no idea about it’s fascinating background. I’m definitely going to check it out tonight after work. Seems like one of those rare moments that can never be repeated musically. Captures a very specific time and emotional state. That often makes for the best albums. Springsteen’s Nebraska also comes to mind
ghost mall
@John Appleton killer album! As usual I was late to that party too. I remember trying to listen to it back in the day but was put off by his unusual, strained voice. Now I appreciate that as one of the best elements of the album
Marcos d’Arc
i hold firm to my conviction that this is the greatest expression of emotion in the form of an album
YouTube A.I bot
idk, Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest is pretty damn close