RE: Stacks Lyrics

Lyric discussion by sifellt neytandi 

Cover art for RE: Stacks lyrics by Bon Iver

Something about this part really gets me:

There's a black crow sitting across from me; his wiry legs are crossed And he's dangling my keys he even fakes a toss Whatever could it be That has brought me to this loss?

Very lovely lyrics and imagery in this song.

I believe the black crow is a reference to death, since crows, like vultures, eat carcasses. He is waiting patiently (legs are crossed), perhaps in a condescending manner, with some anticipation. The keys could be a symbol to the gates of Heaven, where one would go after death. Or the keys to death itself. And the fake toss is an attempt at death, but a (perhaps fortunate) failure. So he's losing at life, in some sorts, and he's asking himself what could have possibly led to this. In brief, I'm thinking it has something...