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
AUATC
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your head's down low
If you can see your own kite
Shed a little light on it
You know a burden ain't a bust
You are the only way to trust ya
It's only fair it burns up in that rust
Lay down, Martha
Lay down the holy banner flag
Hold out, Martha
Help is surely on its way
And it's not right
Don't bask in the glory of mine
No, no, no, they cannot take that part away
They ate up all their cake
And they drank their own wine
They were always on the take
Will you shed a little light on it
Well, you know the burden ain't a gust
The only path to love is touch
Oh, no, no, no, that ain't probably amount to much
Lay down, Martha
Lay all that alabaster down
There's no master and
Help will surely come around
I don't ask
I don't bask in the glory, oh no
And it's up to me if I don't wear a mask
Well you're up all night
And your neighbors don't know
Man, your neighbors don't know
So shed a little light on it
You know the burden ain't a gust
You know that truth's been made a crutch
No no no, only them who's pauper lays him up
The lyrics of Bon Iver's song "AUATC" convey a sense of struggle and self-reflection, urging the listener to confront their own burdens and challenges. The repeated imagery of being "up all night" and having a "head's down low" suggests a state of restlessness and inner turmoil. The mention of seeing one's own kite and shedding light on it symbolizes gaining clarity and understanding of one's own struggles and emotions. The idea that "a burden ain't a bust" implies that challenges are not always insurmountable obstacles, but rather opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
The mention of "Lay down, Martha" and holding out the "holy banner flag" could suggest a call for surrender and seeking guidance or support from something greater than oneself. The reference to help being on its way and not basking in glory implies humility and a recognition of the transient nature of success and accomplishments. The refrain that "they cannot take that part away" emphasizes the importance of holding onto one's essence and integrity despite external pressures or influences.
The imagery of consuming cake and wine and always being on the take evokes a sense of excess and selfishness. The plea to "shed a little light on it" emphasizes the need for illumination and truth in the face of deception or illusion. The acknowledgment that the burden is not a gust, and that love requires touch, suggests the importance of genuine connections and vulnerability in relationships.
The repeated urging to "lay down, Martha" and to let go of ego and material possessions signifies a release from attachments and a surrender to the flow of life. The mention of there being no master and help coming around implies a message of collective support and interconnectedness. The refusal to wear a mask and the assertion of personal agency in deciding one's own path highlight the importance of authenticity and self-empowerment. Overall, the lyrics of "AUATC" speak to themes of introspection, humility, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you're up all night
Despite being awake all night, feeling restless and consumed by your thoughts.
And your head's down low
Feeling down and burdened, unable to lift your head up high.
If you can see your own kite
If you can gain clarity and insight into your own situation.
Shed a little light on it
Illuminating the darkness that surrounds your thoughts and emotions.
You know a burden ain't a bust
Understand that burdens are not failures, but opportunities for growth.
You are the only way to trust ya
You are the only one who can truly trust yourself.
It's only fair it burns up in that rust
It's only fair that the burdens and challenges you face are confronted and overcome.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brandon John Burton, James Harmon Stack, Jennifer Lynn Wasner, Phillip Gardner Cook, Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leanne
Well, you're up all night
And your head's down low
If you can see your own kite (Shed a little light on it)
You know a burden ain't a bust
You are the only way to trust ya
It's only fair it burns up in that rust
Lay down, Martha
Lay down the holy banner flag
Hold out, Martha
Help is surely on its way
And it's not right
Don't bask in the glory of mine
But oh no, they can't come take that part away
Ate up all their cake
And they drank their own wine
They were always on the take (Will you shed a little light on it)
Well, you know the burden ain't a gust
The only path to love is touch
I know that all that proper mounts too much
Lay down, Martha
Lay all that alabaster down
There's no master and
Help will surely come around
I don't ask
I don't bask in the glory
Oh no
And it's up to me if I don't wear a mask
Well you're up all night
And your neighbors don't know
Man, your neighbors don't know
(So shed a little light on it)
You know the burden ain't a gust
You know that truth's been made a crutch
No no no
Only them who's pauper lays him up
lukula
As much as I look forward to anything Bon Iver presents , there is a troubling pattern emerging in these lryics and video.
The burden is not a bust if I can see my own kite...And how many of us do that?...See their own kites? (Thoughts/ideas)?
Faith in myself, my ideas,...Which are doomed to oxidize and disintegrate...
The original flag maker, (our ancestors) should not carry it as a banner? Should not hold on to hope and remembrance of
it's meaning? And I definitely should not assume my glory is/was theirs? (Or would want to be)?
Cake and wine= French elites in their bubbles or ignorance and hypocrisy. What's blowing now is more a constant, unrelenting
force, which will blow away the loveless and "overly image mindful".
Yes put down our symbols and stone images of our magnificence...our past. Rely on your own responsibility for your actions
and fears...(When I see a mask, I see a weakened and fearful spirit, caught in a body that cannot understand what we do to it
and why).
We're reduced to living in our quiet desperation...alone and beyond prying eyes. Learning to live inside the greater mask itself.
And, what used to be our strength has become our weakness...and only our fellow cripples will be there to clean the messy
memories.
Killua
Comeram Todo o Bolo
Bem, você fica acordado a noite toda
E sua cabeça está abaixada
Se você pode ver sua própria pipa
(ILUMINE-A UM POUCO)
Você sabe que um fardo não é um busto
Você é a única maneira de confiar em você
É justo que queime somente nessa ferrugem
Deita-te, Martha
Deite a bandeira sagrada
Espere, Martha
A ajuda certamente está a caminho
E isso não está certo
Não se aqueça na minha glória
Mas oh não, eles não podem levar essa parte embora
Comeram todo o bolo
E eles beberam seu próprio vinho
Eles sempre estiveram prontos
Você pode esclarecer um pouco sobre isso
Bem, você sabe que o fardo não é uma rajada
O único caminho para o amor é o toque
Eu sei que tudo que é muito apropriado monta demais
Deita-te, Martha
Coloque todo aquele alabastro no chão
Não há mestres e
A ajuda certamente virá
Eu não pergunto
Eu não me deleito na glória
Ah não
E cabe a mim se eu não usar uma máscara
Bem, você fica acordado a noite toda
E seus vizinhos não sabem
Cara, seus vizinhos não sabem
(Então, esclareça um pouco sobre isso)
Você sabe que o fardo não é uma rajada
Você sabe que a verdade se tornou uma muleta
Não, só aqueles que são pobres o deitam
Francesco Bonini
Well, you're up all night
And your head's down low
If you can see your own kite (Shed a little light on it)
You know a burden ain't a bust
You are the only way to trust ya
It's only fair it burns up in that rust
Lay down, Martha
Lay down the holy banner flag
Hold out, Martha
Help is surely on its way
And it's not right
Don't bask in the glory of mine
But oh no, they can't come take that part away
Ate up all their cake
And they drank their own wine
They were always on the take (Will you shed a little light on it)
Well, you know the burden ain't a gust
The only path to love is touch
I know that all that proper mounts too much
Lay down, Martha
Lay all that alabaster down
There's no master
And help will surely come around
I don't ask
I don't bask in the glory
Oh no
And it's up to me if I don't wear a mask
Well you're up all night
And your neighbors don't know
Man, your neighbors don't know
(So shed a little light on it)
You know the burden ain't a gust
You know that truth's been made a crutch
No no no
Only them who's pauper lays him up
Glen Thomas Fonsaco
I'm so happy music exists.
jixxeo
I agree
Helius Hector
Liar
R Stanley
Word!
Father Father
same
Forever Ago
Ikr thank god
James Stanton
My mother passed away a few days ago. She would have absolutely loved this.
Heather
I hope you are doing well - thinking of you
Akash Raj
so sorry.
LAV!SH
Sorry about your your mom but I’m glad that she would have loved it. The thing is that maybe she’s able to hear it in Heaven! Hope that’s the case man. I’m glad that I was able to help Justin out with this one and AUTAC!