Hey, Ma Lyrics

Lyric discussion by threetoe 

Cover art for Hey, Ma lyrics by Bon Iver

To me this sounds like the narrator is speaking to an individual with mixed morals (back and forth with light) or a dark heart but a light facade. The lyrics do reference light and dark a few times, as in the darkness of a coal mine and the darkness/light of dusk and dawn.

My best guess is that the narrator is the customer of the subject, who deals drugs. The narrator begins each verse by waiting outside. He tokes on dope and he wants "mind sugar."

In the final verse, the subject brings the narrator inside rather than having him wait outside, and reveals a dark secret, perhaps a truth that the narrator already knew, seeing as his previous interactions in previous verses made him "want a bath" and referenced "the past that he knew." Further evidence being that the narrator can't look the subject in the eyes during this seemingly long discussion.

The money that the subject makes (and is constantly bragging about) is in a dark trade (living in a coal mine) and perhaps it's time to come clean, admit to the people he cares about (like his ma) that his money and lifestyle are not legit. Or perhaps he was caught / turned himself in and it's time to tell those he cares about that he's going to jail.

The one line in this song I can't really reconcile is "Tall vote, you know you mope it up," I just don't see how it fits with my interpretation. But that's what I gleaned anyways.

My Interpretation

@threetoe

Good morning to anyone who may read this:

I heard this song a while ago and found it compelling as I do for most of the Bon Iver music. Its well composed and is infused with a lot of complex music literary theory.

Many of the themes of Bon Iver music to include all the artists in the band have this same up bringing and thus provide deep rich experiences to component this talent of composition delivery through music.

To understand any literary piece, the context of the writer(s) experience is key to understanding the conscious message and unconscious...

  • Mid west life in the north is very difficult as weather conditions and origins of its people has dictated so blue collar work values hold strong to this region. However, due to this same experience work is limited to largely to the lower socioeconomic groups and lack of education. These conditions usually result in drug/alcohol use to cope with long winters and the hardships of blue collar life. Additionally these conditions usually lead to unhealthy family and perosnal relationship patterns.
  • The work of this region for unskilled labor is packing and mining namely coal and iron ore. Many young men look to these risky jobs as a way to make fast money as they pay well but cause many health and relationship problems due to long hours in the nine cold months (feast or famine).

    @threetoe solid. Thanks for sharing.