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
Heavenly Father
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't need to go where a bible went
But then you know your gifts seemed heaven sent
Just lead me to a choler, dad, that's the thing
I don't know how you house the sin
But you're free now
I was never sure how much of you I could let in
Won't you settle down baby here your love has been
Heavenly father
It's definitely lava
Why you don't carry other names?
Heard about a day where it dropped the know
To go another day as we learn to close
'Cause I'm a known coward in a coward wind
But you're free now
You turn around now and you count to 10
To see you go now
Well I know now honey that I can't pretend
Heavenly father
Is whose brought to his autumn
And love is left in end
I just been up here for god damn years
Can you see now?
Filling up hulls with god damn fears
I am free now
I know about it darlin', I've been standin' here
Heavenly father
Is all that he offers
A safety in the end
The lyrics to Bon Iver's song Heavenly Father suggest a deep sense of spiritual struggle and introspection. From the very start of the song, the lyrics convey a sense of confusion and yearning for guidance, "Ever since I heard the howlin' wind, I didn't need to go where a bible went". The first stanza seeks a direction in life and the singer seems to be struggling with his beliefs until he says, "Just lead me to a choler, dad, that's the thing". The line conveys a sense of submission to a higher power, a heavenly father who can lead the singer out of this spiritual emptiness.
The theme of redemption comes through in the second stanza, with the singer acknowledging that they are a "known coward in a coward wind" but noting that "you’re free now" and turning "around now and you count to 10". It's a song of catharsis and forgiveness, with the lines "Heavenly father, It’s definitely lava" suggesting the intense emotion and release that comes with being forgiven. The final stanza expresses a sense of cleansing, with the singer admitting to "filling up hulls with god damn fears" before finding the safety, redemption, and love offered by the heavenly father.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since I heard the howlin' wind
From that moment onwards, the singer's life took a different course
I didn't need to go where a bible went
The singer didn't confine himself to the religious ways of life
But then you know your gifts seemed heaven sent
Despite not being religious, the singer knew that his talents were divine
Just lead me to a choler, dad, that's the thing
The singer sought guidance from his father to help him find his way
I don't know how you house the sin
The singer was curious about how his father coped with the sins of the world
But you're free now
The singer's father was free from the hardships of life
I was never sure how much of you I could let in
The singer was always unsure of how much he could rely on his father
And I'm free now
The singer had found his own way in life and was free from his uncertainties
Won't you settle down baby here your love has been
The singer wanted his loved ones to embrace the safe and secure environment he had found
Heavenly father
The singer was referring to his father's spiritual nature
It’s definitely lava
The singer was relating the power of his father's spirit to molten lava
Why you don't carry other names?
The singer was curious as to why his father was not known by other names
Heard about a day where it dropped the know
The singer had heard about a day when knowledge was abundant
To go another day as we learn to close
The singer was committed to learning and growing as he moved forward
'Cause I'm a known coward in a coward wind
The singer admitted to being too weak to face up to tough times
But you’re free now
Despite his shortcomings, the singer's father was now at peace
You turn around now and you count to 10
The singer encouraged his listeners to take a moment to reflect and regroup
To see you go now
The singer was sad to see his father leave him behind
Well I know now honey that I can't pretend
The singer understood that he could no longer live a lie
Heavenly father
The singer returned to the metaphor of his father's spiritual nature
Is whose brought to his autumn
The singer believed that his father had reached the autumn of his life
And love is left in end
The singer recognized that love was the most important thing in life
I just been up here for god damn years
The singer had spent many years feeling lost and alone
Can you see now?
The singer challenged his listeners to look beyond their current situation
Filling up hulls with god damn fears
The singer had been weighed down for too long by his fears
I am free now
The singer had finally found freedom from his fears
I know about it darlin', I've been standin' here
The singer had been waiting patiently for his loved ones to join him in his newfound safety
Heavenly father
The singer finished with a final reference to his father's spiritual nature
Is all that he offers
The singer believed that his father's love was the greatest gift of all
A safety in the end
The singer saw his father's teachings and love as the ultimate protection in life
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kasiecastleberry
Lyrics (WOO)
Ever since I heard the howlin' wind
I didn't need to go where a bible went
But then you know your gifts seemed heaven sent
Just lead me to a choler, dad, that's the thing
I don't know how you house the sin
But you're free now
I was never sure how much of you I could let in
And I'm free now
Won't you settle down baby here your love has been
Heavenly father
It's definitely lava
Why you don't carry other names?
Heard about a day where it dropped the know
To go another day as we learn to close
'Cause I'm a known coward in a coward wind
But you're free now
You turn around now and you count to 10
To see you go now
Well I know now honey that I can't pretend
Heavenly father
Is whose brought to his autumn
And love is left in end
I just been up here for god damn years
Can you see now?
Filling up hulls with god damn fears
I am free now
I know about it darlin', I've been standin' here
Heavenly father
Is all that he offers
A safety in the end
@StardustVibes
AMAZING!
@karabochamp8204
I love your work stardust absolutely
@samanthaquintal615
I was lucky enough to be there that night. This was a once in a lifetime performance, I was left in tears, so much emotion conveyed in a single performance. Truly moving.
@lifesedgeart9303
I am so jealous of you but happy you got to experience that!
@moneyatslander
Me too. By myself so no distractions. Very close, side of stage. The intimacy was heartbreaking.
@becbek
It was amazing. I replay this to take me back to this night and this particular moment. Turning around to see everyone tearing up. It was so raw, so real.
@leannajanebarnes
I can just imagine 🙌🙌🙌
@jamiefisher8411
Oh my goodnessss
@Mak933
The Staves aren't getting enough credit here. These are some incredible sisters.
@nickb442
Holy shit is that...is that actually them?