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
U
Bon Iver Lyrics
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Mmm
I will see you off now down the back of the ridge
There's just something that I got to show you
There is domer and there's rot and the common case
It ain't nothin' what you say is true
Presently, it does include my dues
Ain't your standard premonitions, all this phallic repetition
Boy, you tell yourself a tale or two
Man like you
Man, improve
Well, I know that we set off for a common place
And the lines have run too deep
How much caring is there of some American love
When there's lovers sleeping in our streets?
So Cerberus Ride! Bring those dead alive
Like Pirate Jenny on the Black Freighter
It'll be a long day of fixing, make something else your mission
Boy, why this shit so hard to cue?
Man like you
How you do?
The lyrics of "U" by Bon Iver are complex and can be difficult to interpret. The song seems to be about a relationship that has gone sour and both parties are struggling to reconcile their differences. The opening lines, "I will see you off now down the back of the ridge / There's just something that I got to show you" suggest that the singer wants to show the other person something important before they part ways. However, the following lines, "There is domer and there's rot and the common case / It ain't nothin' what you say is true" suggest that the singer is disillusioned with the relationship and believes that the other person may not be truthful or sincere.
The lyrics go on to describe the complexity of the situation and the singer's struggle to reconcile what they want with what they know is true. The lines "Ain't your standard premonitions, all this phallic repetition / Boy, you tell yourself a tale or two" suggest that the other person may be deluding themselves about the situation. The repeated refrain of "Man like you / Man, improve" suggests that the singer is frustrated with the other person's behavior and wants them to change.
The song goes on to question larger societal issues, such as the state of American love and the homeless population, and brings in references to Greek mythology and Brecht's "Pirate Jenny." Overall, the song is a complex, introspective look at a struggling relationship and larger societal issues.
Line by Line Meaning
I will see you off now down the back of the ridge
I will take you to a secluded place to show you something important
There's just something that I got to show you
There is something that I must reveal to you
There is domer and there's rot and the common case
There are elements of decay and decline in our surroundings.
It ain't nothin' what you say is true
Your words are not entirely truthful.
With your long arms, try and just give some time
Be patient and provide support with all your resources
Presently, it does include my dues
Currently, I am paying the price for my actions
Ain't your standard premonitions, all this phallic repetition
These are not typical warnings, but rather repeated images of masculinity
Boy, you tell yourself a tale or two
You are telling yourself stories to justify your actions
Well, I know that we set off for a common place
We started with a shared goal or destination
And the lines have run too deep
Our differences have created a deep divide
How much caring is there of some American love
How much love and care is there for fellow Americans?
When there's lovers sleeping in our streets?
How can we ignore the homeless who are sleeping in the streets?
So Cerberus Ride! Bring those dead alive
Call upon the mythical creature Cerberus to revive the dead
Like Pirate Jenny on the Black Freighter
Similar to Pirate Jenny who seeks revenge in the tale of the Black Freighter
It'll be a long day of fixing, make something else your mission
Fixing the situation will take time, so focus on other goals in the meantime
Boy, why this shit so hard to cue?
Why is it difficult to understand what is happening?
Man like you
You, as a man
Man, improve
Improve yourself, man
How you do?
How are you doing?
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bruce Hornsby, Christopher Messina, Justin Vernon, Naeem Hanks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HDpiano
Bruce and Bon Iver... our heart <3
@mounthope2567
Congrats on your success
@loveiverwashereasherself4803
Bon👁Ver ruuuuulllllleeeessssss💌💋
@greatwanna
With your piano course on I can't make you love me, I started thinking you are a huge fan of JV
@gannonrinehart6077
I want Bon Iver playing at: my wedding, my funeral, the birth of my child, the death of my friends and parents, the top of a mountain, the barest valley, my most blissful moments, my darkest depression.
Thank you Justin Vernon
@Lemifer
And i want him in Argentina for once
@PoopyMcGriddle
@@Lemifer lol
@marcomixmatte
so lovely.
@LyricShai
This comment speaks to me YESSSS
@hellacompany5331
Hella real