I will always love this song but I guess I'm always going to be skeptical about the lyrics and their meaning. I suppose one could call this post-post-modern in the vein of the Cocteau Twins whose ethereal and beautiful nonsense lyrics (sounding Gaelic but totally made up) riveted us in the 80's but still I wonder if I'm being "conned". I can't legitimately criticize Vernon's process here but something about it leaves me feeling that something's not quite right in the manner in which this beautiful song was created. Is this how it should be? It perplexes me that I love the song but have a deep issue with how it was constructed. ![]() What should come first? The melody or the lyrics? With this song - which we all agree we love I think - he constructed a melody and then evolved phrases and lyrics to fit the melody (and very arbitrarily with no real narrative thread). This made me think hard about the process of writing a song - something I've not done for a long time. He says that he "tried phrases" and "played with words" until he found things that fit the chords he was noodling (my words). OK, I respect that Justin took off and went to live in the woods in a cabin in the woods for three months with minimal amenities and wrote this beautiful song (and later added tracks to it in the studio) but the process by which he created the lyrics really gave me pause. And then I read an article on the genesis of this song and I was stopped cold. On this track, I especially like the quirky tempo changes and, of course Justin Vernon's ethereal voice is just so amazing: this song in gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. That fact that Bon Iver is on the 4AD label just adds to their cred - this is the record label of New Order (nee Joy Division) fame that spawned such iconic bands as The Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Dif Juz, Colourbox, The Wolfgang Press, This Mortal Coil, and so many others. One of the freshest voices I've heard in a long time and really a great arrangement. Let me say at the outset that when I first hear this song I was blown away. That's not a detraction in any way because that show introduced me to many other great tunes. OK, I admit I heard this song first (like many) in that infamous House episode. Written by: Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon Once again a protective and nurturing environment is represented through the sky and the moon. The only thing that truly matters is love, again represented by the color maroon. The color red, which represents love, is akin to the reddish tone of makeup worn on the cheeks. Love can leave marks, not necessarily physical, but ones with lasting impact akin to rope burns. The calmness of lakes can be compared to the cautious nature of loons, a bird species known for their watchful behavior. I travel extensively, from one place to another like water from shore to shore. My mother's image on the wall represents her presence in our lives. The moon, a feminine symbol, represents a nurturing force. The sky can represent a protective, nurturing environment like a womb. Love can be sticky and messy, like feathers stuck to a water flume. The only thing worth living for is love, which can be compared to the deep red color of maroon. Now that I've shown you who I am through my clothes, you know me better. The final lines bring us back to the theme of love and the idea that it can be both beautiful and painful, leaving "rope burns" and a "reddish rouge" behind.īeing my mother's only child is enough for me. The reference to moving in water and nothing being more important than that reinforces the idea of connection and fluidity. The lines "I am my mother on the wall, with us all" suggest that the speaker is part of a larger family unit and that they take pride in that connection. ![]() The final verse brings the focus back to the speaker's identity and their connection to their family. The speaker's comparison of the sky to a womb and the moon as a goddess figure reinforces the idea that there is something magical and transformative about love. The reference to feathers on a flume might suggest that love can be light and airy, but also sticky and difficult to navigate. ![]() The reference to love as maroon might suggest that love is a deep, complex emotion that can be both beautiful and painful. The imagery in the next verse is poetic and mystical, with references to love as maroon, feathers on a flume, and the sky as womb. This pride may come from a sense of having overcome some adversity or obstacles in their life. The reference to the garment is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is proud of their identity and wants to exhibit it for all to see. The opening lines "I am my mother's only one, it's enough" suggest a deep connection with one's family and a sense of self-sufficiency that comes from that connection. The lyrics to Bon Iver's "Flume" are open to interpretation, but there are some common themes that run through them.
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