Flume
Bon Iver Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am my mother's only one
It's enough

I wear my garment so it shows
Now you know

Only love is all maroon
Gluey feathers on a flume
Sky is womb and she's the moon

I am my mother on the wall, with us all
I move in water, shore to shore
Nothing's more

Only love is all maroon
Lapping lakes like leery loons
Leaving rope burns
Reddish rouge

Only love is all maroon

Gluey feathers on a flume
Sky is womb and she's the moon

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Bon Iver's song "Flume" delve deeply into themes of identity and self-reliance. The singer declares, "I am my mother's only one, it's enough." These lines suggest a sense of isolation but also self-sufficiency. The "garment" that the singer wears "so it shows" could be a metaphor for their character or identity, worn proudly for all to see. The second verse continues with a dream-like, surreal quality, describing the natural world as if it were a cosmic womb, where the sky itself is a mother figure.


The repeated phrase "only love is all maroon" is difficult to interpret but it seems to hint at the enduring power of love even in a world of uncertainty and change. The lines are juxtaposed with evocative images such as "gluey feathers on a flume" and "lapping lakes like leery loons", suggesting a mysterious and mystical quality to the natural world around us. The final lines of the song circle back to the opening, with the singer again identifying themselves with their mother. "I am my mother on the wall, with us all" suggests a kind of transcendence, where the singer's identity becomes one with the collective consciousness.


Line by Line Meaning

I am my mother's only one
I'm the only child my mother has


It's enough
She's content with having just one child


I wear my garment so it shows
I wear my emotions on my sleeve, I don't hide them


Now you know
I'm being transparent about my emotions


Only love is all maroon
The only thing that matters is love, which is a deep red color like maroon


Gluey feathers on a flume
Love can be sticky and messy, like feathers stuck to a water slide


Sky is womb and she's the moon
The sky is like a mother's womb, and the moon is like a nurturing mother figure


I am my mother on the wall, with us all
The artist sees themselves as a reflection of their mother, who is represented by a picture on the wall


I move in water, shore to shore
The artist is constantly traveling and adapting, like water flowing from one shore to another


Nothing's more
Nothing is more important than love and the artist's relationship with their mother


Lapping lakes like leery loons
The peaceful sounds of water lapping against rocks, and the cautious calls of loons, symbolize the tranquility and security of love


Leaving rope burns
Love can also leave scars and painful memories, like rope burns


Reddish rouge
Love is like a deep red blush that brings warmth and life to the singer


Only love is all maroon
Reiterating that love is the most important thing


Gluey feathers on a flume
Reiterating that love can be messy and hard to understand


Sky is womb and she's the moon
Reiterating that nature and nurturing are intertwined and essential in love




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

David


on For Emma

So apropose
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

More Versions