Lyric discussion by jabberparrot 

I saw this concert. In Calgary, my hometown, actually, which was quite the experience.

Justin Vernon stated that the song was made as he dropped out of college and was travelling around Europe. He was in Ireland and he met a man named Paul from Calgary, and this song was written about him. He said they still stayed in touch throughout the years and he was a very, very close friend.

His own words of the meaning of this song :)

Really? I saw him here in Austin for an Austin City Limits taping, and he introduced it by saying he fell in love with a girl from Calgary. I might've misunderstood him.

There's probably an element of both.

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