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
Calgary
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh
Never keep your eyelids clipped
Hold me for the pops and clicks
I was only for the father's crib
Hair, old, long along
Your neck onto your shoulder blades
Always keep that message taped
Cross your breasts you won't erase
I was only for your very space
Hip, under nothing
Propped up by your other one
Face 'way from the sun
Just have to keep a dialogue
Teach our bodies, haunt the cause
I was only trying to spell a loss
Joy, it's all founded
Pincher with the skin inside
Oh
You pinned me with your black sphere eyes
You know that all the rope's untied
I was only for to die beside
So it's storming on the lake
Little waves our bodies break
There's a fire going out
But there's really nothing to the south
Swollen orange and light let through
Your one-piece swimmer stuck to you
Sold, I'm ever
Open ears and open eyes
Oh
Wake up to your starboard bride
Who goes in and then stays inside
Oh, the demons come, they can subside
The lyrics to "Calgary" by Bon Iver are rich with metaphor and emotion, leaving much room for interpretation. The song is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and the pain that can accompany it. The first stanza sets the tone for the song, suggesting that the singer's lover is failing to show them the attention and affection they crave. The singer longs to be held and cherished, but instead they find themselves alone and unnoticed.
The second verse seems to delve into the physical realm of the relationship, with the singer describing the way their lover's hair falls across their shoulder blades and the importance of keeping a message taped to their body. The chorus centers around the idea of loss and the singer's attempts to come to terms with it. They speak of trying to "spell a loss", suggesting that perhaps they can capture and understand their pain through language.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you cherish me to sleep
Do not treat me with kindness just to put me to sleep
Never keep your eyelids clipped
Always be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open
Hold me for the pops and clicks
Hold me through the hardships and difficulties
I was only for the father's crib
I was only meant to be for the father's possession
Hair, old, long along
Hair that is old and long running along the body
Your neck onto your shoulder blades
Your neck resting on your shoulder blades
Always keep that message taped
Always remember that message and keep it close to you
Cross your breasts you won't erase
Promise with all your heart that you won't forget
I was only for your very space
I was only meant to belong to you
Hip, under nothing
Hip exposed without any cover
Propped up by your other one
Supported by the other hip
Face 'way from the sun
Face away from the light and positivity
Just have to keep a dialogue
We should keep talking and communicating
Teach our bodies, haunt the cause
Let us learn and explore every inch of each other's bodies
I was only trying to spell a loss
I was only trying to predict heartbreak and failure
Joy, it's all founded
All the happiness we experience is rooted in something
Pincher with the skin inside
Pinch the skin that is inside
You pinned me with your black sphere eyes
You trapped me with your dark eyes
You know that all the rope's untied
You know that all the ties that held us together are undone
I was only for to die beside
I only wanted to die together with you
So it's storming on the lake
There is a violent storm happening on the lake
Little waves our bodies break
The small waves are shaking our bodies
There's a fire going out
The fire is slowly dying out
But there's really nothing to the south
There is nothing in the south
Swollen orange and light let through
A swollen orange color lets light through
Your one-piece swimmer stuck to you
You are wearing a one-piece swimsuit
Sold, I'm ever
I am sold forever
Open ears and open eyes
Listen intently and keep your eyes open
Wake up to your starboard bride
Wake up to facing your partner
Who goes in and then stays inside
Who enters and never leaves
Oh, the demons come, they can subside
The demons may come but they can go away
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon, Matthew Boutwell McCaughan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@27thMuhammed
"Calgary"
Don't you cherish me to sleep
Never keep your eyelids clipped
Hold me for the pops and clicks
I was only for the father's crib
Hair, old, long along
Your neck onto your shoulder blades
Always keep that message taped
Cross your breasts you won't erase
I was only for your very space
Hip, under nothing
Propped up by your other one, face 'way from the sun
Just have to keep a dialogue
Teach our bodies: haunt the cause
I was only trying to spell a loss
Joy, it's all founded
Pincher with the skin inside
You pinned me with your black sphere eyes
You know that all the rope's untied
I was only for to die beside
So itʼs storming on the lake
Little waves our bodies break
There's a fire going out,
But there's really nothing to the south
Swollen orange and light let through
Your one piece swimmer stuck to you
Sold, I'm Ever
Open ears and open eyes
Wake up to your starboard bride
Who goes in and then stays inside
Oh the demons come, they can subside
@delaneyyx7190
Don't you cherish me to sleep
Never keep your eyelids clipped
Hold me for the pops and clicks
I was only for the father's crib
Hair, old, long along
Your neck onto your shoulder blades
Always keep that message taped
Cross your breasts you won't erase
I was only for your very space
Hip, under nothing
Propped up by your other one, face 'way from the sun
Just have to keep a dialogue
Teach our bodies: haunt the cause
I was only trying to spell a loss
Joy, it's all founded
Pincher with the skin inside
You pinned me with your black sphere eyes
You know that all the rope's untied
I was only for to die beside
So it''s storming on the lake
Little waves our bodies break
There's a fire going out
But there's really nothing to the south
Swollen orange and light let through
Your one piece swimmer stuck to you
Sold, I'm Ever
Open ears and open eyes
Wake up to your starboard bride
Who goes in and then stays inside
Oh the demons come, they can subside
@stephaniezimendstark8819
He wrote this song having never been to Calgary. He knows some people from Calgary and he said in an interview that he almost felt connected to this place, even though he had never been there. This song is about wanting to go somewhere, or feeling like you might belong somewhere even though you dont know it, or about wanting to fall and be in love with someone, but not knowing where to find them or even what it is youre looking for in the people around you. It like feeling lost, and wanting to find somewhere to belong and someone to belong with. I'm from Calgary, and Ive felt this way about Vancouver Island for quite sometime, and I had also been feeling this way about the whole love thing. My problem now is that Ive fallen in love, but he doesnt know and its not the right time, so Im waiting for him... But now I have the opportunity to move to Vancouver island.... Both my life long dreams are finally coming true, and I have to pick just one... :'(
@DwarfElfZombie
Vancouver Island.
@stephaniezimendstark8819
I'm starting to think that Happiness is more important than loving someone, so Vancouver Island it is. I leave in just over a month. :)
@webkritik5411
Stephanie Zimendstark Good Luck! :)
@thepericlesvc
Hope you'll find your way through this :) Listening this song and following your heart might be the right things to do!
@leonabeodrakien
and so? what you picked?
@paololiverani2683
For me, this song is about deciding to finally open up to love, to others and ultimately to life. And is always an act of pure courage, as leaving your comfort zone for the surface of relations is always risky. I might say: an act of faith.
God bless you bon iver, my thoughts seems to be being written by the same language of your music
@SamMoreno970
Beautiful comment man, thank you. Do you like Kierkegaard?
@paololiverani2683
@Sam Moreno i studied him while in High school and i remember that i used to like him..
@miglena2s
To finally see what Love is (about). Deep and High... (Life)... and Absolute Faith, Yes