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
Holocene
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're laying waste to Halloween
You fucked it friend, it's on its head, it struck the street
You're in Milwaukee, off your feet
And at once, I knew I was not magnificent
Strayed above the highway aisle
Jagged vacance, thick with ice
3rd and Lake, it burnt away, the hallway
Was where we learned to celebrate
Automatic bought the years you'd talk for me
That night you played me Lip Parade
Not the needle, nor the thread, the lost decree
Saying nothing, that's enough for me
And at once, I knew I was not magnificent
Hulled far from the highway aisle
Jagged vacance, thick with ice
But I could see for miles, miles, miles
Christmas night, it clutched the light, the hallow bright
Above my brother, I and tangled spines
We smoked the screen to make it what it was to be
Now to know it in my memory
And at once, I knew I was not magnificent
High above the highway aisle
Jagged vacance, thick with ice
But I could see for miles, miles, miles
The song "Holocene" by Bon Iver is a melancholic, introspective piece that reflects on the fragility and impermanence of life. The opening lines "Someway, baby, it's part of me, apart from me, You're laying waste to Halloween, You fucked it friend, it's on its head, it struck the street, You're in Milwaukee, off your feet" suggests a feeling of detachment, a sense of being disconnected from reality. The imagery of Halloween and Milwaukee creates a sense of nostalgia, tinged with sadness.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on a moment of clarity that he had, where he realised that he was "not magnificent". The imagery of being "above the highway aisle, Jagged vacance, thick with ice, But I could see for miles, miles, miles" suggests a sense of detachment, of being an observer rather than an active participant in life. The recurring theme of "jagged vacance" creates a sense of isolation and disconnection.
The final verse "Christmas night, it clutched the light, the hallow bright, Above my brother, I and tangled spines, We smoked the screen to make it what it was to be, Now to know it in my memory" suggests a sense of finality, of accepting that memories are all that remain. The use of past tense reinforces this idea, of looking back on something that is no longer there.
Overall, the song creates a sense of longing and nostalgia, of coming to terms with the fleeting nature of life and the importance of holding onto memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Someway, baby, it's part of me, apart from me
I feel like a part of myself is missing and I'm lost without it
You're laying waste to Halloween
You're ruining everything, even something as innocent as Halloween
You fucked it friend, it's on its head, it struck the street
You messed up so badly that everything is turned upside down and ruined
You're in Milwaukee, off your feet
You're completely disoriented and lost in a strange place like Milwaukee
And at once, I knew I was not magnificent
I suddenly realized that I'm not as great or important as I thought I was
Strayed above the highway aisle
I wandered aimlessly, feeling lost and disconnected from everything around me
Jagged vacance, thick with ice. But I could see for miles, miles, miles
The landscape was harsh and unforgiving, but I could see everything clearly and with great detail
3rd and Lake, it burnt away, the hallway
A specific place that was once familiar to me was destroyed and lost forever
Was where we learned to celebrate
That place was important because it was where we learned how to have fun and enjoy life
Automatic bought the years you'd talk for me
I relied on technology to do the talking for me, instead of speaking for myself
That night you played me Lip Parade
I have a specific memory of a song that was significant to me
Not the needle, nor the thread, the lost decree. Saying nothing, that's enough for me
I don't need material possessions or other people's opinions to validate me. Just being quiet and content is sometimes enough
Christmas night, it clutched the light, the hallow bright
One specific Christmas night is memorable to me because of the bright and beautiful decorations
Above my brother, I and tangled spines
I was with my brother and we were close together, like tangled spines
We smoked the screen to make it what it was to be
We altered our perception of reality by smoking or ingesting a substance
Now to know it in my memory
I have a clear memory of that experience that I can recall
High above the highway aisle. Jagged vacance, thick with ice. But I could see for miles, miles, miles
Even though I was in a hostile environment, I had a clear view of everything around me and felt a sense of clarity and perspective
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mxxn夜月
I've known this song for years. now that I've grown up since then, I flashback the innocent, childhood memories of those days. funny how strong can music be
teju33
Back to the Future: If Holocene was in 22, A Million...Great!
Robbie Teasdale
beautiful it is.
Theearlynovamber ;
I love this
Divinity Butterfly
Is Beatiful!!!!<3
Ed Cady-Ross
This was released on Spotify by Bon Iver for his Bon Iver, Bon Iver: Stem projects competition and there are 16 remixs of songs off the album, its off streaming but find it easily on his reddit so you can listen to it on your phone, and its official by Bon Iver
Katie Bear
beautiful
Leandro Souza
there is a something deep in this music, i hope back here soon, with assurance that i found my fu**ing way home
Tidal Tricking
did u get home
Peter Joseph
2014... how have I just got here...