The man behind th… Read Full Bio ↴Born April 30, 1981 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S.
The man behind the 'Bon Iver' moniker. Vernon played in "DeYarmond Edison" which included the three current members of Megafaun. Vernon has released two solo albums, "Self-Record" and "Hazeltons". Vernon parted ways with DeYarmond Edison and is currently operating under his Bon Iver project name. His side projects include Volcano Choir, Gayngs, Eau Claire Memorial Jazz I and Anais Mitchell.
Hanna My Ophelia
Justin Vernon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close to the center of the largest grinding gear
Things we knew, we know 'cause we stayed near
You were my love for all of my best years
Rifles crack; their lonesome sound
For 20 miles outside of town
Tears fall on my muddy feet
As they lower you so slowly in the ground
Your niece she sang an angel's song
and, Love, I hope it won't be long
Hannah, I hope it won't be long
The lyrics to Justin Vernon's song "Hanna My Ophelia" are a poignant tribute to a lost love. The opening lines speak to the notion that the two lovers have been in each other's lives for a long time, and that they have both been ground down by the harshness and relentlessness of the world. The language of the "largest grinding gear" speaks to the way in which life can often seem like a machine that is grinding us all down, slowly but surely.
The second verse picks up on this idea of hardship and loss, but it does so in a more specific and personal way. The sound of rifles is both ominous and jarring, and the mention of tears falling on muddy feet creates a powerful sense of grief and sadness. The pulleys squeaking as they lower someone into the ground is a stark image that speaks to the finality of death. The final verse is perhaps the most hopeful, as it suggests that "Hanna" may have found some sort of peace or solace in the afterlife. The mention of an "angel's song" is a beautiful image that suggests a sense of transcendence and acceptance of life's mysteries.
Overall, "Hanna My Ophelia" is a beautiful and haunting song that speaks to the universal themes of love and loss. Justin Vernon's lyrics are both poetic and raw, and the spare instrumentation and production perfectly suits the song's emotional intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
All our lives we've been here
We have spent our entire lives in this place
Close to the center of the largest grinding gear
We have lived close to the hub of the busy machinery of life
Things we knew, we know 'cause we stayed near
The things we know are the result of our proximity and lingering
You were my love for all of my best years
You have been the love of my life during my prime years
Rifles crack; their lonesome sound
The sound of gunshots echoes through the area, bearing an air of sorrow and isolation
For 20 miles outside of town
The sounds can be heard far and wide outside the city limits
Tears fall on my muddy feet
As I stand in the mud, the tears roll down my face like raindrops
I quiver as the pulleys squeak
My body trembles in response to the creaking sound of the machinery
As they lower you so slowly in the ground
As your lifeless body is lowered into the earth with gradual solemnity
Your niece she sang an angel's song
Your niece sang a beautiful song fitting for an angel
and, Love, I hope it won't be long
And my love, I wish the wait for us to join you won't be too long
Hannah, I hope it won't be long
Hannah, I hope it won't be too long before we're all together again
Contributed by Nathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rosesorose.
I really love it, really. ♡
my god... SO BEATIFUL!