Blood Bank
Iver Bon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags

You said "see lookit, that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers"

And I said I know it well

That secret that you knew
But don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red

Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar

You said "ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this"
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss

And I said I know it well

That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?

And I said I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well




And I know it well
And I know it well

Overall Meaning

The song "Blood Bank" by Bon Iver tells the story of a chance encounter between two people at a blood bank. The lyrics speak of the mundane experience of sorting through bags of blood, trying to match the colors with names they know on the labels. However, the mention of secrets and the way the lyrics delve into the characters' inner thoughts suggest that there is something deeper going on. The singer hints at knowing a secret that he or she cannot reveal, a secret that is causing confusion and internal turmoil.


The snowy weather also adds to the somber tone of the song, highlighting the isolation and uncertainty of the situation. The two characters find themselves stuck in a car together, with only each other's company to keep them warm. As they start to get closer, the singer again references the secret they both seem to be keeping. The lyrics speak of being in love with the other person's "honor" and "cheeks," which again suggests there is more beneath the surface. The reference to "Christmas morning creaks" also adds a touch of nostalgia and warmth to the song, contrasting with the colder, more uncertain tone earlier in the song.


Overall, "Blood Bank" is a beautifully understated song that builds slowly, layering emotion and meaning through the repetition of certain phrases and the evocative descriptions of the mundane world. It is a song that rewards close listening, as each line feels carefully chosen to contribute to the overall mood and meaning of the piece.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I met you at the blood bank
I first saw you when we were at a blood bank donating blood


We were looking at the bags
We were examining the bags of blood to see if they had any familiar names


Wondering if any of the colors
We were curious about whether the color of the bags of blood matched any names on the tags


Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
We were hoping to find names we recognized on the tags


You said 'see lookit, that's yours
You pointed out a bag of blood and told me it was the one I had donated


Stacked on top with your brother's
You noticed that my bag of blood was stacked on top of my brother's bag


See how they resemble one another
You observed that the bags of blood looked alike


Even in their plastic little covers'
The bags of blood looked similar even in their packaging


And I said I know it well
I acknowledged that I was aware of this fact


That secret that you knew
I knew the secret you were keeping


But don't know how to tell
You were hesitant to share this secret with me


It fucks with your honor
Keeping this secret is making you feel ashamed


And it teases your head
You are constantly thinking about this secret and it is weighing on you


But you know that it's good, girl
You realize that keeping this secret is actually beneficial for you


'Cause its running you with red
The adrenaline from keeping this secret is causing you to feel energized


Then the snow started falling
It started snowing outside


We were stuck out in your car
We were stranded in your car because of the snow


You were rubbing both of my hands
You were trying to warm me up by massaging my hands


Chewing on a candy bar
You were eating a candy bar to pass the time


You said 'ain't this just like the present
You commented on how the situation felt like a gift


To be showing up like this'
You felt grateful that we were together in this moment


As a moon waned to crescent
The moon was transitioning from a full moon to a crescent moon


We started to kiss
We began to kiss each other


That secret that we know
We both know the same secret


That we don't know how to tell
We are both unsure of how to share this secret with each other


I'm in love with your honor
I am attracted to your sense of morality and ethics


I'm in love with your cheeks
I am physically attracted to your face


What's that noise up the stairs babe?
I heard a noise coming from upstairs and asked you about it


Is that Christmas morning creaks?
I wondered if the noise was from a creaky floorboard like you might hear on Christmas morning


And I said I know it well
I repeated that I understood the situation completely


And I know it well
Once again, I affirmed that I had a full understanding of what was happening


And I know it well
I repeated myself again to emphasize my understanding of the situation


And I know it well
Again, I confirmed my thorough comprehension of the circumstances


And I know it well
One more time, I asserted that I fully grasped what was going on


And I know it well
Finally, I reiterated my complete understanding of the events taking place




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@artnaut

Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags

You said, "See look there, that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers"

And I said I know it well

That secret that you knew
But you don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause it's running you with red

Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both my hands
Chewing on a candy bar

You said, "Ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this?"
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss

And I said I know it well

That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?

And I know it well
I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well



@youllfigureitoutb

Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
You said "see lookit, that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers"
And I said I know it well
That secret that you knew
But don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red
Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar
You said "ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this"
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss
And I said I know it well
That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?
And I said I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well



All comments from YouTube:

@gannonrinehart6077

Bon Iver makes me want to spend every second with my future love I haven't met, but also makes me want to spend my life in a cabin in the woods alone

@marwazein7283

Its almost the same for me! Being full of contradictions makes us more human...

@joshwilliams7118

Teases your head

@edoprabowo1502

yesss!! exactly

@redabadaoui1641

so relatable

@Syar12

Yeah, live in the forest alone with soulmate and listening to indie music everyday.

26 More Replies...

@dundermifflinthisiserin

nothing hurts my heart more than music by bon iver

@iztomtom4122

julia rob hurts Then you should listen to Sufjan Stevens. Will rip your heart apart. Look up 4th of July by him.

@janb.1550

Ever tried eating only fast food, doing nothing and smoking vigorously 3+ packs of cigarettes a day? That will literally stop your heart.

@kumokha121

IRISHTOMMY ahhh, cry again

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