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
We
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn around and face it, you're adjacent to the scar
"I want mine here though!"
We heard that story before
What you think we're tamin' with the towers and the oar?
You keep evading boy, you putting me flat on the floor
It's okay, you were young when you were gave it
And you'd expect it when we photograph our scars
Some lonely fable that we took in then right from the start
I want it back
I want it back
Won't you tell me how to get it back?
I want it back
I want it back
Why won't you tell me how to get it back?
My, my
my, my
I'm comin' over for another story told
I'm sayin', homie, that it's not what you been sold
It's hardly what you'd know
The ordinary something neither of us holds
No folding gold for protecting from the lords
Who's that really we leave out in the cold?
But they're depending, so you just keep giving pause
"I must defend it," oh the tariffs hit you hard
Just keep adding up boy, you'll be below regard
The lyrics in Bon Iver's song "We" delve into themes of longing for the past, the impact of personal experiences, and the pressures of societal expectations. The opening lines emphasize the importance of being present in the current moment and acknowledging one's surroundings. The mention of a scar suggests a past wound or trauma that is still affecting the singer. They express a desire to reclaim what was lost or taken from them, indicating a yearning for something that once belonged to them. However, this sentiment is not new or unique, as the phrase "I want mine here though! We heard that story before" implies that many others have experienced similar desires.
The following lines allude to an ambiguity or confusion regarding the singer's actions. The mention of "towers and the oar" suggests an attempt to navigate through challenging situations, but the singer seems to be evading or avoiding the truth, resulting in vulnerability. The repetition of "you stayed there" implies that despite the passage of time, the singer remains in a state of stagnation or holding on to the past. This may also suggest that the scars they bear are deeper than surface wounds.
The chorus expresses the singer's longing for something that has been lost. They plead for guidance in retrieving what is missing, indicating a sense of frustration or impatience. The repetition of "my, my" further emphasizes the personal and emotional nature of their desire.
The second verse shifts focus to the idea of storytelling and how what we are told may not always align with reality. The singer is skeptical of the narratives they have been sold or taught, suggesting that they have discovered a different truth. The ordinary or mundane things that neither the singer nor the listener possess are juxtaposed with the idea of protecting oneself with valuable resources. The phrase "leaving out in the cold" implies the neglect and disregard of certain individuals or groups. The singer acknowledges their dependency on others' actions but questions the significance of their defense or loyalty in the face of continued hardships.
Overall, "We" reflects a longing for a past state, a skepticism towards societal narratives, and a recognition of the struggles of marginalized individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
For only takers, stand and take in where you are
Take a moment to reflect on your current situation as someone who only takes without giving
Turn around and face it, you're adjacent to the scar
Face the consequences of your actions, as you are in close proximity to the damage you have caused
"I want mine here though!"
Expressing a desire to have what belongs to oneself, despite previous similar desires being expressed
We heard that story before
This is a familiar narrative that we have encountered previously
What you think we're tamin' with the towers and the oar?
Do you believe we can control or change our circumstances through grand gestures or efforts?
You keep evading boy, you putting me flat on the floor
You consistently avoid facing the truth, and it leaves me feeling defeated
It's okay, you were young when you were gave it
It's understandable, as you were inexperienced when you were given this responsibility
But you stayed there
However, you chose to remain in that position
And you'd expect it when we photograph our scars
We should anticipate capturing the evidence of our wounds through photographs
Some lonely fable that we took in then right from the start
A tale of isolation and longing that we believed from the very beginning
I want it back
I desire to regain what has been lost
Won't you tell me how to get it back?
Could you please provide guidance on how to retrieve what has been lost?
Why won't you tell me how to get it back?
I am frustrated by your silence in sharing the method to recover what has been lost
My, my
Expressing surprise or disbelief in the situation
I'm comin' over for another story told
I will come to listen to another tale being recounted
I'm sayin', homie, that it's not what you been sold
I am indicating, my friend, that the reality is not aligned with the promises made to you
It's hardly what you'd know
It is far from what you were aware of
The ordinary something neither of us holds
We do not possess the mundane aspects of life
No folding gold for protecting from the lords
We do not have valuable possessions to shield us from those in power
Who's that really we leave out in the cold?
Who are we truly neglecting and abandoning in harsh conditions?
But they're depending, so you just keep giving pause
However, they rely on us, so we must hesitate and consider their needs
"I must defend it," oh the tariffs hit you hard
Claiming the need to protect something, but the taxes imposed on you are causing significant difficulty
Just keep adding up boy, you'll be below regard
Continuously accumulating debts and obligations will diminish your reputation and value
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Ultra Tunes, SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Sarlo, Bradley Cook, Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon, Phillip Cook, Wesley Tyler Glass
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesus Christ
It's hard to stay disappointed with humanity when Bon Iver keeps surprising us by dropping multiple tracks on the same day! Hallelujah! Praise be St. Justin! 😇🙏
Frying1Pans
yeet
Catspurlee
Askskksks hahaha
Fiki Firmansyah
Bless you jesus
Alex
Like jesus said....^^^^^^
DF2314
I love how you're verified. 😂😂
J Rodriguez
Every time bon Iver drops an album I look at life with a different perspective
tenzin wangmo
.eh
JORDAN.
This’ll actually bump so hard live. This albums giving me the hype 22 did and I’m all for it after hearing the 6 tracks so far.
Child of The Most High🙏🏻
Thank you. Thank you for all the art you've given us. Your music has been there through my early teenage years and now into my early twenties. Reminding me what it means to simply be human. You remind me of the simplicity and the beauty there is in this short life were given. You remind me that it's the simple things that are the most beautiful.