This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
You said "see lookit, that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers"
And I said I know it well
That secret that you knew
But don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red
Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar
You said "ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this"
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss
And I said I know it well
That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?
And I said I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
You said "see lookit, that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers"
And I said I know it well
That secret that you knew
But don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor
And it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red
Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both of my hands
Chewing on a candy bar
You said "ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this"
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss
And I said I know it well
That secret that we know
That we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor
I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?
And I said I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
And I know it well
Lyrics submitted by sidelinedseason, edited by benapere
Blood Bank Lyrics as written by Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
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Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
i'm about to get super sappy and fangirly. don't let the literary references fool you. in midnight's children, a novel by salman rushdie, the narrator explains that reality is a matter of perception. he claims that they closer that we are to the present, the more incredible it is. things only become plausible, legitimate, ordinary as we move away and the present becomes past. ain't this just like justin vernon to be showing up salman rushdie? this song so beautifully and succinctly captures that same concept. love, like the present, sneaks up on you quickly. unpremeditated, unanalyzed... the most unbelievable, life altering, and breathe taking moments so often take place when you least expect them, in places as regular as blood banks and car seats. i wonder, though, what stage is this relationship in? my initial thought is that this is a new encounter. after all, the song begins with their meeting. but then again, she recognizes his blood, knows his very essence, right away. either a testament to the strength of their 'love at first sight,' or proof of how well they know each other? his agreement, "I know it well," of course changes in meaning throughout the song. initially, however, it confirms his mutual understanding of himself or perhaps of her. again, hard to tell whether these impressions have come strong and fast, or have built over time. in the first chorus, "the secret" has to be romantic feelings hidden for fear of unknown consequences. will my love be reciprocated? am i lying by being with this person and not acknowledging the way i truly feel about them? ... am i crazy? definitely "fucks with your honor and teases your head." the fact that these consequences exist certainly implies that a lot is on the line with the recent romantic revelations. probably a lot more than a fresh and faux-platonic acquaintanceship. can't bypass the chorus without saying how much i loooove the tension between the certain and uncertain here. she (he? though he directly addresses her, it seems like he could just as easily be talking to himself) KNOWS the secret, KNOWS that it's good, but just can't goddamn overcome her internal conflict, her struggle with what she DOESN'T KNOW -- how it will all work out. so relatable; so passionate. and god, what a simple and gorgeous little scene that comes next? hand rubbing, candy bar eating, kissing in the snowfall and moonlight... am i watching a winterized version of the notebook? only bon iver can achieve this level of adorable sweetness without making it cheezzy as hell and simultaneously manage to nestle the song's philosophical gem within it. "ain't this just like the present / to be showing up like this?" ohmylord. incredible. this song, chock full of smoldering intensity, reaches its peak here. in the midst of a giggling interaction, in the negative light of a dying moon, this line sneaks up and smacks you with confusion and relief. i mean... this girl's spewing insight practically mid hook up. what the hell? and yet i find myself enthralled and enraptured by the profundity of what she says, the exact moment she choses to say it, the results of her decision ("we started to kiss"; "is that xmas morning creaks?"). thank GOODNESS the secret is out! hallelujah that these moments, these words, this present -- as incredible and unexpected as it is -- happened to piece together in the right way! thank the powers that be that when all hung in the balance, it tilted towards love! still... there's something bittersweet about it all. if these are new friends, then isn't fate just an unpredictable son of a bitch for introducing you to the love of your life when you least expect it? if these are old friends, then isn't fate just an unpredictable son of a bitch for tormenting you with uncertainty one moment and fulfilling your wildest dreams the next? whichever one it is, again, he "knows it well." this time it's acceptance, it's willingness to give this thing a go, it's knowledge that this may end up very bitter or very sweet. ahh. i love the steady drum that builds during this chorus. i feel like its my heart cheering for them. finally, straightforward, he says it. he's "in love." duh. we knew that before he did. but zooooom forward into the future, and you realize that this can't just be lusty love or a short lived romance. "what's that noise up the stairs, babe? / is that christmas morning creaks?" : he cares about her so much, he can see himself married to her, having children, hearing them upstairs roused and ready for presents on some distant christmas morning. of course it can be taken as a literal flash forward, but i like to imagine him waking up with her after their first time together and groggily remembering a whole future he dreamed for them. this time, when he "knows it well," it's commitment. an assuredness of their togetherness. an affirmation of their incredible present, and their even more exciting future.
Very well interpreted. Thank you.
I think that's a fantastic interpretation of the track. Well done. Enjoyyourroots...WTF is that all about.<br /> <br /> I'd just like to add one thing. I think these two people already knew each other before meeting at the Blood Bank but saw each other in a new light, there, for one reason or another and that was like meeting for the first time:<br /> <br /> "You said look it, that's your<br /> Stacked on top with your brothers"<br /> <br /> How could she otherwise know who his brothers is, although then again, maybe its just that the bags are stacked in order of name and John Doe Vernon is stacked with Justins.<br /> <br /> But I like the idea that these two people started out knowing each other in a purely platonic way and gradually the relationship developed into love.<br /> <br /> Love that line, "I'm in love with your honour, I'm in love with your cheek"<br /> <br /> Anyway, great work Natbrack.
great job analyzing this. i had a few ideas for what the "secret" could be but the part about it "running [her] with red" always threw me off. with your idea of her hiding/thinking about her feelings towards him it finally came to me that she could be blushing.
couldn't have said it better myself! kudos!<br /> <br /> In terms of whether or not they knew each other...I think they actually met in the blood bank (it's the randomness of it all that makes this song so beautiful). They clearly exchanged names...so, that's how she recognized his blood and his brother's blood.<br /> <br /> Living in the present...not worrying about the past and/or the future is what's important. If you don't live in the present you might miss out on something amazing...something like finding love at the most mundane place (yes, I am aware of the significance and the beauty of them meeting at a blood bank...but it's random and unexpected like the supermarket).<br /> <br /> "Cause it's runnin' you with red" definitely means that she's blushing...oh, so beautiful!
wonderful
To start, this is spot-on with how I perceived the song. I took pleasure in reading the entire thing, to the contrary of enjoyyourroots's opinion. Just to add another quick line analysis, these are my favorite lines of them all:<br /> <br /> "I'm in love with your honor<br /> I'm in love with your cheeks"<br /> <br /> Breathtaking. He's saying that he's in love with every single thing about her: from her overarching sense of honor down to the smallest thing like the way her cheeks look. Absolutely beautiful.
I created an account here just to tell you THANK YOU. Your interpretation of the song is beautiful, I had to save it :)
Amazing analysis! You seemed to put all the emotions I got out of this song into words. Thanks for the contribution; keep it up. Post like this keep me on this site.
This song has so much beauty sewn into it! Thank you for this post.
I always thought of my ex, who is still a good friend whenever I heard this song, and your interpretation has opened my eyes to the real meaning behind this song, so thank you. If i put myself in these shoes, I am currently at the first verse, in a situation that 'fucks with your honor and teases your head'. I'm really hoping I can get to the xmas morning creaks...
Thanks, that is a beautiful interpretation. It doesn't even matter that there is no definate true interpretation, but the fact that this song and their beautiful words lead to this beautifully detailed and well written analysis makes music and art in general so fantastic and moving.
@natbrack I thought the same when I heard it! Your resume is just so true. You're good at it!
I Saw Bon Iver in September last year at the end of the road festival. Before he played this song he said "This song is about being stuck in a car in the snow, with somebody new" I really dont think there is much more to it than that. Admitadly Most of Justin's lyrics are very subtle and oblique. Never trying to be to specific. But i think essentially its about two people who meet at a Blood bank and find them selves stuck in a car. The realisations that happen when you start thinking about whats happening at the present time like you do if you meet somone special. Your thoughts begin to work differently. So much of peoples time is spent thinking about the past and the future. Its very strange when you meet someone special and there is a conection when you start thinking about the moment and what it means to you now. You kind of know your going to look back fondly on whats happening.
this is the best interpretation for this song i have read. i completely agree with you.
That's the stuff. In my opinion, a perfect explanation. This song is more like a haiku than a complex web-- just a set of wonderful imagery caught up in a realization of the moment. I totally agree.
Perfect. The way you defined how you think when meeting someone special is something i've been trying to define for months. Couldn't agree more.
best interpretation! sometimes the simplest solutions make the most the sense.
I must agree, this interpretation is spot on in my opinion.
Does anyone think that it could be about too people that used to be in love that just randomly ran into each other? and that secret that they both do not know how to tell is that they still do love eachother? I do not buy into this whole pregnancy theory.
@Musicman062592 I think you are right, I imagine two people who fell in love but before couldn't make things work, despite both still living each other, and or, circumstances dictated they weren't right for each other in the long term. Now they recognise the happiness they once had but the inevitable end of their relationship, so this brief encounter serves as a bitter sweet day dream where they both know they can only enjoy the now
hes the only man that makes "fuck" sound like the most beautiful word in the english language.
It fluttered briefly in the palms of my hands, then was gently carried away by the breeze. My last fuck is gone. I have none left to give.
I love the phrase "I know it well" in this song. I was in a long relationship that was really unhealthy and my girlfriend was constantly taking advantage of me and hurting me and every time she'd hurt me she'd have some excuse and if ever I'd bring something up she'd turn it around on me saying something like "why don't you trust me" or something very similar. I caught her cheating on me more than once but for some dumb reason I couldn't let her go and for some even dumber reason she couldn't let me go. Either way, every time I'd learn she did something else to me I'd always get really quiet and speak very softly and in the same tone as Bon Iver sings that phrase of the song. And the words "I know it well" were words that I told her every time she'd give her excuses. She'd say something trying to exonerate herself and my thought "I know it well" would keep me from getting mad at her and keep her from thinking I was mad. It made her think I understood even though I meant it as I know how you feel about me. I felt like the phrase summed up everything and left it closed enough that she didn't have to bring it up again but open enough that she could let me go and be honest with me. Ultimately that's why I think I stayed with her...I just wanted her to admit that she didn't love me like she used to. Sadly that never happened. The phrase in the song brings back that same feeling for me though and I don't know why but I soothes me unimaginably.
Lord, would you stop whining. Your girlfriend is the one you take to bed and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. She's the one you phone and text daily. She's the one you say "I love you" to. She's the one you dance with, drink with, and smile at whenever you meet. If SHE is hurting you and taking advantage of you (which seems impossible due to brilliance, stubborness, and an innate survival instinct...did I say stubborness? OK, just wanted to make sure to include STUBBORNESS), anyway...if she is doing that to you than I suggest you dump her and get another beauty just like her come spring. Man, I hate posts that sound like whining...
@starkiller7 I don't know you but i just wanted to say i'm sorry for your loss. Im sure it was a good relationship at some point because as sad as it is to say not everything good lasts. I know this was five years ago but it mattered at some point and I'm typing this for the moment when it mattered most. The moment when it hurt the most. So I'm sorry this person hurt you and i hope you find what your looking for in this life.
@starkiller7 I am so sorry.
I don't imagine this man will ever write a bad song. This is incredible. Mindblowingly incredible.
oh, yes. he is amazing
check out Gregory Alan Isakov! (stable song, That moon song, Evelyn, 3 a.m.)
Bryceing, thank you so much for telling about isakov, i owe you!!!
i think it is an incredibly beautiful love song
i think it is the most beautiful love song written in awhile...
Vernon is a master of imagery
"I'm in love with your honor."
That lyric is like a hand reaching into my heart.
He's in love with this woman who turns out to be his mother. It's from an episode of Northern Exposure.
I think this is an amazing piece that's about the fascination we have with love and falling into it. The blood reference in the beginning could refer to commonness we all share. As far as blood goes, there's nothing to the naked eye that would make us different from anyone else. However there is that attraction that's completely indisputable.
By the second chorus, he's figured out that he's in love. The attraction, greater than blood, has been recognized and he has no idea how to tell her. It but it's there and he knows it's ok with her, that she knows without him having to say a word, because she's blushing...running with red. he knows what this is and he knows it well, that feeling of falling.
Her rubbing his hands is a sign of reciprocation, she's concerned with his well being and trying to keep him warm while doing something as simple as "chewing on a candy bar". They kiss because the attraction far beyond blood has been recognized. In essence, they've sealed the deal.
I think they escape the snow and the story moves. To me, this is the most beautiful part. The Christmas Morning reference indicated they were going to make love for the first time. It seemed that the unwrapping of presents would be very much like the unwrapping of clothing and exposing the gifts underneath.
What's that noise up the stairs babe? Is that Christmas morning creaks?
This part gives me chills in the song.
When you think about it - with or without kids in your life - if you heard a noise up the stairs on any old day of the year, it's probably just a creak. But on Christmas morning - there is a 99% chance that creak is the footsteps of an excited child.
I think it goes with the pregnancy idea. That noise is now (going to be) the noise of a child's footsteps.
Does anyone remember when you were a kid and so excited about christmas. You wake up too early, try to fall back asleep because no one else is awake yet. As you lay there, every little noise or creak in the house brings you back to the excitement/ anticipation. To me, the "Christmas morning creaks" is referring to that same excited, can't wait feeling. Except with a new love where he can't wait until the next time they're together.
To reply to Lally123, I'm fairly sure she means present as in the present moment, not present as in a gift or child.
Which is a pretty cool, noticing each moment becoming the present.
As for my own interpretation, the thing she cannot tell is that she's alive. She doesn't know how to explain life & feeling. No answer to the great questions of why we're here and such.. But he says you know it's good though, cause it's running you with red (blood) as kinda of like a symbol for life. (I forgot what those type of symbolisms are called v_v) So I'm taking it as he's pointing out.. we [her] might not know how to explain life, but it's in our veins.. we have the answer in us, we just don't know how to explain it.
Totally agree!