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
TOWERS
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the swampy August dawn
What a mischief you would bring, young darling
When the onus is not all your own
When you're up for it before you've grown
Whoa-whoa
From the faun forever gone
I'd have tore your hair out just to climb back, darling
When you're filling out your only form
Can you tell that it's just ceremon'?
Now you've added up to what you're from
Whoa-whoa
Build your tether rain-out from your fragments
Break the sailor's table on your sacrum
Fuck the fiercest fables, I'm with Hagen
For the love, comes the burning young
From the liver, sweating through your tongue
Well, you're standing on my sternum
Don't you climb down, darling
Oh, the sermons are the first to rest
Smoke on Sundays when you're drunk and dressed
Out the hollows where the swallow nests
Whoa-whoa
The song "Towers" by Bon Iver is a reflection on love and the pain that often accompanies it. The opening lines, "For the love, I'd fallen on / In the swampy August dawn," suggest a sense of vulnerability and surrender to love. The singer is willing to dive into the murky waters of love despite the potential risks and challenges.
The next lines, "What a mischief you would bring, young darling / When the onus is not all your own," reveal a sense of playfulness and flirtation. Even though the singer knows that love can be difficult, he is drawn to the excitement and unpredictability that comes with it. The allusion to the idea of "onus" also suggests that love is a shared responsibility - both parties are responsible for making it work.
As the song continues, there is a reference to a "faun forever gone" and the "towers of your honeycomb." These images suggest a kind of idyllic, mystical world that may not be entirely tangible or real. The singer seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to climb back to this place of magic and beauty, even if it means tearing out his own hair.
The refrain, "Whoa-whoa," adds a sense of urgency and passion to the song, as if the singer is pleading with the object of his desire to take a chance on love.
Overall, "Towers" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the complexities of love and the emotional highs and lows that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
For the love, I'd fallen on
I fell in love.
In the swampy August dawn
It was a hot summer morning.
What a mischief you would bring, young darling
You caused trouble, my dear.
When the onus is not all your own
When you're not solely responsible.
When you're up for it before you've grown
When you're not quite mature enough for it.
Whoa-whoa
Uninterpretable vocalization.
From the faun forever gone
From something that's gone forever.
In the towers of your honeycomb
In your complex inner world.
I'd have tore your hair out just to climb back, darling
I'd do anything to be with you again.
When you're filling out your only form
When you're becoming who you are.
Can you tell that it's just ceremon'?
Can you tell it's just a formality?
Now you've added up to what you're from
You've become who you were meant to be.
Whoa-whoa
Uninterpretable vocalization.
Build your tether rain-out from your fragments
Create your foundation from your broken pieces.
Break the sailor's table on your sacrum
Do something unexpected and daring.
Fuck the fiercest fables, I'm with Hagen
Ignore the old stories, I'm here with you.
For the love, comes the burning young
Love can be intense and passionate.
From the liver, sweating through your tongue
A physical reaction to love.
Well, you're standing on my sternum
You're crushing me, emotionally.
Don't you climb down, darling
Don't leave me alone.
Oh, the sermons are the first to rest
Words lose meaning, actions speak louder.
Smoke on Sundays when you're drunk and dressed
Taking risks and letting loose.
Out the hollows where the swallow nests
Away from everything comfortable, towards something new.
Whoa-whoa
Uninterpretable vocalization.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sunil2504
I know nobody gonna scroll down for lyrics instead of watching
and wondering over that magnificently done video....
but if someone wants to go through lyrics after watching over video 100 of times
and wants to sync with Justin then here is the lyrics....... Enjoy.. ;)
For the love, I'd fallen on
In the swampy August dawn
What a mischief you would bring, young darling
When the onus is not all your own
When you're up for it before you've grown
Whoa-whoa
From the faun forever gone
In the towers of your honeycomb
I'd have tore your hair out just to climb back, darling
When you're filling out your only form
Can you tell that it's just ceremon'?
Now you've added up to what you're from
Whoa-whoa
Build your tether rain-out from your fragments
Break the sailor's table on your sacrum
Fuck the fiercest fables, I'm with Hagen
For the love, comes the burning young
From the liver, sweating through your tongue
Well, you're standing on my sternum
Don't you climb down, darling
Oh, the sermons are the first to rest
Smoke on Sundays when you're drunk and dressed
Out the hollows where the swallow nests
Whoa-whoa
@diogoleme3284
For the love, I'd fallen on
In the swampy august dawn
What a mischief you would bring young darling!
When the onus is not all your own
When you're up for it before you've grown
From the faun forever gone
In the towers of your honeycomb
I'd a tore your hair out just to climb back darling
When you're filling out your only form
Can you tell that it's just ceremon'
Now you've added up to what you're from
Build your tether rain-out from your fragments…
Break the sailor's table on your sacrum…
Fuck the fiercest fables, I'm with hagen
For the love, comes the burning young
From the liver, sweating through your tongue
Well, you're standing on my sternum don't you climb down, darling
Oh the sermons are the first to rest
Smoke on sundays when you're drunk and dressed
Out the hollows where the swallow nests
@droopy_911
For the love, Iʼd fallen on
in the swampy August dawn
what a mischief you would bring young darling!
when the onus is not all your own
when you’re up for it before you’ve grown
from the faun forever gone
in the towers of your honeycomb
I’d a tore your hair out just to climb back darling
when you’re filling out your only form
can you tell that itʼs just ceremon’
now you’ve added up to what you’re from
build your tether rain-out from your fragments…
break the sailor’s table on your sacrum…
fuck the fiercest fables, I’m with Hagen
for the love, comes the burning young
from the liver, sweating through your tongue
well, youʼre standing on my sternum don’t you climb down darling
oh the sermons are the first to rest
smoke on Sundays when youʼre drunk and dressed
out the hollows where the swallow nests
@charlesstratton6270
OMG, I couldn't believe how this magnificently done video ends.
I never thought something so beautiful as this would have such a bizarre twist of fate.
I really did hate the ending.
OK, that's all I'm going to say on that.
The scenery is really astonishing and the photography is nothing short of Amazing. It makes you feel like you are part of it.
Great vibes through & through except for the very end.
Now the tune.
The love I have for this song, brought me here.
Bon Iver's 'Tower'. It's a well written, played, and produced piece of music.
Check out Bon Iver's 'Holocene' video. It's another video that was very well crafted. The scenery is provided by Beautiful Breath-taking, Ice Land!
@Rosieposielovesplants
My husband and I got married almost four years ago today. When we pulled into our driveway (it was our first night staying at new house together) he had put this on repeat on the record player. So when we opened the front door, he carried me over the threshold, and all I can remember is how beautiful a time it was. This song holds those memories, and I always find myself coming back to visit this beautiful song.
@amberhale123523454
Stephanie Ney are you still married
@hondo6025
I like your story.
@dvdcrr77
So sweet.
@Rosieposielovesplants
Thank you!! We are still married- celebrating our 7th year anniversary on August 10th! Like I said 3 years ago, I always find my way back to this song. along with all the other Bon Iver songs! Thank goodness they released a new song today, right? Time to make some more memories!
@susanvjoyce6404
@@Rosieposielovesplants Cherish these memories dear Stephanie, honestly, they go by so quickly.
@MorphingMary
Bon Iver is a rare treasure. Each and every one of his songs puts me in a state of absolute bliss. It is not an ignorant bliss, either; I am very aware of all my troubles, but momentarily at peace with them. Thank you.
@Chantalchux
this is the greatest description of his music I've ever heard.
@MorphingMary
***** It's the best I could do to describe him with justice. :)
@blasphemicwhale
Mary James small correction, Bon Iver is a band not a person :)